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KEPT  FOR 
MASTER'S  USE 


lllllllll 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


IN  MEMORY  OF 

Georgia  Stamm 

Chamberlain 

1910-1916 


t 


i 


j 


Kept  for  the  Master's  Use 


American  Tract  Society 
New  York 


LOAN  STACK 


•H3 


PREFATORY   NOTE. 


A^v  beloved  sister  Frances  finished  revising 
the  proofs  of  this  book  shortly  before  her  death 
on  Whit  Tuesday,  June  3,  1879,  ^ut  its  publica- 
tion was  to  be  deferred  till  the  Autumn. 

In  appreciation  of  the  deep  and  general  sym- 
pathy flowing  in  to  her  relatives,  they  wish  that 
its  publication  should  not  be  withheld.  Know- 
ing her  intense  desire  that  Christ  should  be 
magnified,  whether  by  her  life  or  in  her  death, 
may  it  be  to  His  glory  that  in  these  pages  she, 

being  dead, 

"Yet  Speaketh!" 

MARIA   V.    G.    HAVERGAL. 

OAKHAMPTON,  WORCESTERSHIRE, 
nth  yune,  1879 » 


022 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  PAGE 

I.  OUR  LIVES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 9 

II.  OUR  MOMENTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS  ....  33 

III.  OUR  HANDS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 43 

IV.  OUR  FEET  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 60 

V.  OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 67 

VI.  OUR  LIPS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 87 

VII.  OUR  SILVER  AND  GOLD  KEPT  FOR  JESUS  105 

VIII.  OUR  INTELLECTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS  .   .   .  122 

IX.  OUR  WILLS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 129 

X.  OUR  HEARTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 140 

XL  OUR  LOVE  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 146 

XII.  OUR  SELVES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS 154 

XIII.  CHRIST  FOR  us 164 


KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 


TAKE  my  life,  and  let  it  be 
Consecrated,  Lord,  to  Thee. 

Take  my  moments  and  my  days, 
Let  them  flow  in  ceaseless  praise. 

Take  my  hands,  and  let  them  move 
At  the  impulse  of  Thy  love. 

Take  my  feet,  and  let  them  be 
Swift  and  "  beautiful "  for  Thee. 

Take  my  voice,  and  let  me  sing 
Always,  only,  for  my  King. 

Take  my  lips,  and  let  them  be 
Filled  with  messages  from  Thee. 

Take  my  silver  and  my  gold ; 
Not  a  mite  would  I  withhold. 

Take  my  intellect,  and  use 

Every  power  as  Thou  shalt  choose. 

Take  my  will  and  make  it  Thine; 
It  shall  be  no  longer  mine. 

Take  my  heart ;  it  is  Thine  own ; 
It  shall  be  Thy  royal  throne. 

Take  my  love;  my  Lord,  I  pour 
At  Thy  feet  its  treasure-store. 

Take  myself,  and  I  will  be 
Ever,  only,  ALL  for  Thee. 


M 


CHAPTER  I. 

OUR  LIVES   KEPT   FOR   JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  life  that  it  may  be 
Consecrated,  Lord,  to  Thee  !  " 

ANY  a  heart  has  echoed  the  little  song, 

(<  Take  my  life,  and  let  it  be 
Consecrated,  Lord,  to  Thee  !  " 


And  yet  those  echoes  have  not  been,  in  every  case 
and  at  all  times,  so  clear,  and  full,  and  firm,  so 
continuously  glad  as  we  would  wish,  and  perhaps 
expected.  Some  of  us  have  said : 

tl  I  launch  me  forth  upon  a  sea 

Of  boundless  love  and  tenderness." 

and  after  a  little  we  have  found,  or  fancied,  that 
there  is  a  hidden  leak  in  our  barque  and  though 
we  are  doubtless  still  afloat,  yet  we  are  not  sail- 
ing with  the  same  free,  exultant  confidence  as  at 
first.  What  is  it  that  has  dulled  and  weakened 
the  echo  of  pur  consecration  song  ?  What  is  the 
little  leak  that  hinders  the  swift  and  buoyant 

9 


io  KEPT  FOR  THE;  MASTER'S  USE. 

course  of  our  consecrated  life  ?  Holy  Father, 
let  Thy  loving  Spirit  guide  the  hand  that  writes, 
and  strengthen  the  heart  of  every  one  who  reads 
what  shall  be  written  for  Jesus'  sake. 

While  many  a  sorrowfully-varied  answer  to 
these  questions  may,  and  probably  will,  arise 
from  touched  and  sensitive  consciences,  each 
being  shown  by  God  s  faithful  Spirit  the  special 
sin,  the  special  yielding  to  temptation  which  has 
hindered  and  spoiled  the  blessed  life  which  they 
sought  to  enter  and  enjoy,  it  seems  to  me  that 
one  or  other  of  two  things  has  lain  at  the  outset 
of  the  failure  and  disappointment. 

First,  it  may  have  arisen  from  want  of  the 
simplest  belief  in  the  simplest  fact,  as  well  as 
want  of  trust  in  one  of  the  simplest  and  plainest 
words  our  gracious  Master  ever  uttered  !  The 
unbelieved  fact  being  simply  that  He  hears  us ; 
the  untrusted  word  being  one  of  those  plain, 
broad  foundation-stones  on  which  we  rested  our 
whole  weight,  it  may  be  many  years  ago,  and 
which  we  had  no  idea  we  ever  doubted,  or  were 
in  any  danger  of  doubting  now — "  Him  that 
cometh  to  Me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out." 


OUR  lylVES   KKPT   FOR  JESUS.  II 

"  Take  my  life  !  "  We  have  said  it  or  sung  it 
before  the  Lord,  it  may  be  many  times ;  but  if 
it  were  only  once  whispered  in  His  ear  with  full 
purpose  of  heart,  should  we  not  believe  that  He 
heard  it  ?  And  if  we  know  that  He  heard  it, 
should  we  not  believe  that  He  has  answered  it, 
and  fulfilled  this,  our  heart's  desire?  For  with 
Him  hearing  means  heeding.  Then  why  should 
we  doubt  that  He  did  verily  take  our  lives  when 
we  offered  them — our  bodies  when  we  presented 
them  ?  Have  we  not  been  wronging  His  faith- 
fulness all  this  time  by  practically,  even  if  uncon- 
sciously, doubting  whether  the  prayer  ever  really 
reached  Him  ?  And  if  so,  is  it  any  wonder  that 
we  have  not  realized  all  the  power  and  joy  of  full 
consecration  ?  By  some  means  or  other  He  has 
to  teach  us  to  trust  implicitly  at  every  step  of  the 
way.  And  so,  if  we  did  not  really  trust  in  this 
matter,  He  has  had  to  let  us  find  out  our  want  of 
trust  by  withholding  the  sensible  part  of  the 
blessing,  and  thus  stirring  us  up  to  find  out  why 
it  is  withheld. 

An  offered  gift  must  be  either  accepted  or 
refused.  Can  He  have  refused  it  when  He  has 
said,  "  Him  that  cometh  to  Me  I  will  in  no  wise 


12  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

cast  out?"  If  not,  then  it  must  have  been 
accepted.  It  is  just  the  same  process  as  when 
we  came  to  Him  first  of  all,  with  the  intolerable 
burden  of  our  sins.  There  was  no  help  for  it  but 
to  come  with  them  to  Him,  and  take  His  word 
for  it  that  He  would  not  and  did  not  cast  us  out. 
And  so  coming,  so  believing,  we  found  rest  to 
our  souls ;  we  found  that  His  word  was  true,  and 
that  His  taking  away  our  sins  was  a  reality. 

Some  give  their  lives  to  Him  then  and  there, 
and  go  forth  to  live  thenceforth  not  at  all  unto 
themselves,  but  unto  Him  who  died  for  them. 
This  is  as  it  should  be,  for  conversion  and  con- 
secration ought  to  be  simultaneous.  But  practi- 
cally it  is  not  very  often  so,  except  with  those  in 
whom  the  bringing  out  of  darkness  into  marvel- 
ous light  has  been  sudden  and  dazzlhig,  and  full 
of  deepest  contrasts.  More  frequently  the  work 
resembles  the  case  of  the  Hebrew  servant  described 
in  Exodus  xxi.,  who,  after  six  years'  experience  of 
a  good  master's  service,  dedicates  himself  volunta- 
rily, unreservedly,  and  irrevocably  to  it,  saying, 
"  I  love  my  master ;  I  will  not  go  out  free ;  "  the 
master  then  accepting  and  sealing  him  to  a 
life-long  service,  free  in  law,  yet  bound  in  love. 


OUR  U VKS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  13 

This  seems  to  be  a  figure  of  later  consecration 
founded  on  experience  and  love. 

And  yet,  as  at  our  first  coming,  it  is  less  than 
nothing,  worse  than  nothing  that  we  have  to 
bring;  for  our  lives,  even  our  redeemed  and  par- 
doned lives,  are  not  only  weak  and  worthless, 
but  defiled  and  sinful.  But  thanks  be  to  God  for 
the  Altar  that  sanctifieth  the  gift,  even  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  Himself!  By  Him  we  draw  nigh 
unto  God;  to  Him,  as  one  with  the  Father,  we 
offer  our  living  sacrifice ;  in  Him,  as  the  Beloved 
of  the  Father,  we  know  it  is  accepted.  So,  dear 
friends,  when  once  He  has  wrought  in  us  the 
desire  to  be  altogether  His  own,  and  put  into  our 
hearts  the  prayer,  "  Take  my  life,"  let  us  go  on 
our  way  rejoicing,  believing  that  He  has  taken 
our  lives,  our  hands,  our  feet,  our  voices,  our  in- 
tellects, our  wills,  our  whole  selves,  to  be  ever, 
only,  all  for  Him.  Let  us  consider  that  a  bless- 
edly settled  thing;  not  because  of  anything  we 
have  felt,  or  said,  or  done,  but  because  we  know 
that  He  heareth  us,  and  because  we  know  that 
He  is  true  to  His  word. 

But  suppose  our  hearts  do  not  condemn  us  in 
this  matter,  our  disappointment  may  arise  from 


14  KEPT  FOR  THE;  MASTER'S  USE. 

another  cause.  It  may  be  that  we  have  not  re- 
ceived, because  we  have  not  asked  a  fuller  and 
further  blessing.  Suppose  that  we  did  believe, 
thankfully  and  surely,  that  the  Lord  heard  our 
prayer,  and  that  He  did  indeed  answer  and  accept 
us,  and  set  us  apart  for  Himself,  and  yet  we  find 
that  our  consecration  was  not  merely  miserably 
incomplete,  but  that  we  have  drifted  back  again 
almost  to  where  we  were  before.  Or  suppose 
things  are  not  quite  so  bad  as  that,  still  we  have 
not  quite  all  we  expected ;  and  even  if  we  think 
we  can  truly  say,  "O  God,  my  heart  is  fixed/' 
we  find  that,  to  our  daily  sorrow,  somehow  or 
other  the  details  of  our  conduct  do  not  seem  to 
be  fixed,  something  or  other  is  perpetually  slip- 
ping through,  till  we  get  perplexed  and  distressed. 
Then  we  are  tempted  to  wonder  whether,  after 
all,  there  was  not  some  mistake  about  it,  and  the 
Lord  did  not  really  take  us  at  our  word,  although 
we  took  Him  at  His  word.  And  then  the  strug- 
gle with  one  doubt,  and  entanglement,  and  temp- 
tation only  seems  to  land  us  in  another.  What  is 
to  be  done  then? 

First,  I  think,  very  humbly  and  utterly  honestly, 
to  search  and  try  our  ways  before  our  God;  or 


OUR  UV3S  KSPT  FOR  J3SUS.  15 

rather,  as  we  shall  soon  realize  our  helplessness  to 
make  such  a  search,  ask  Him  to  do  it  for  us, 
praying  for  His  promised  Spirit  to  show  us  unmis- 
takably if  there  is  any  secret  thing  with  us  that  is 
hindering  both  the  inflow  and  outflow  of  His 
grace  to  us  and  through  us.  Do  not  let  us  shrink 
from  some  unexpected  flash  into  a  dark  corner; 
do  not  let  us  wince  at  the  sudden  touching  of  a 
hidden  plague-spot.  The  Lord  always  does  His 
own  work  thoroughly,  if  we  will  only  let  Him  do 
it;  if  we  put  our  case  into  His  hands.  He  will 
search  and  probe  fully  and  firmly,  though  very 
tenderly.  Very  painfully,  it  may  be,  but  only 
that  He  may  do  the  very  thing  we  want — cleanse 
us  and  heal  us  thoroughly,  so  that  we  may  set  off 
to  walk  in  real  newness  of  life.  But  if  we  do  not 
put  it  unreservedly  into  His  hands,  it  will  be  no 
use  thinking  or  talking  about  our  lives  being  con- 
secrated to  Him.  The  heart  that  is  not  entrusted 
to  Him  for  searching,  will  not  be  undertaken  by 
Him  for  cleansing;  the  life  that  fears  to  come  to 
the  light  lest  any  deed  should  be  reproved,  can 
never  know  the  blessedness  and  the  privileges  of 
walking  in  the  light. 

But   what   then?      When   He  has  graciously 


1 6  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

again  put  a  new  song  in  our  mouth,  and  we  are 
singing, 

"  Ransomed,  healed,  restored,  forgiven, 
Who  like  me  His  praise  should  sing  ?  " 

and  again  with  fresh  earnestness  we  are  saying, 

"  Take  my  life,  and  let  it  be 
Consecrated,  Lord,  to  Thee  ! " 

are  we  only  to  look  forward  to  the  same  disap- 
pointing experience  over  again  ?  are  we  always  to 
stand  at  the  threshold  ?  Consecration  is  not  so 
much  a  step  as  a  course ;  not  so  much  an  act,  as  a 
position  to  which  a  course  of  action  inseparably 
belongs.  In  so  far  as  it  is  a  course  and  a  position, 
there  must  naturally  be  a  definite  entrance  upon 
it,  and  a  time,  it  may  be  a  moment,  when  that 
entrance  is  made.  That  is  when  we  say,  ''Take ; " 
but  we  do  not  want  to  go  on  taking  a  first  step 
over  and  over  again.  What  we  want  now  is  to 
be  maintained  in  that  position,  and  to  fulfill  that 
course.  So  let  us  go  on  to  another  prayer.  Hav- 
ing already  said,  "  Take  my  life,  for  I  cannot 
give  it  to  Thee/'  let  us  now  say,  with  deepened 
conviction,  that  without  Christ  we  really  can  do 


OUR  UVES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  17 

nothing— "Keep  my  life,  for  I  cannot  keep  it  for 
Thee." 

Let  us  ask  this  with  the  same  simple  trust  to 
which,  in  so  many  other  things,  He  has  so  liberally 
and  graciously  responded.  For  this  is  the  confi- 
dence that  we  have  in  Him,  that  if  we  ask  any- 
thing according  to  His  will,  He  heareth  us ;  and 
if  we  know  that  He  hears  us,  whatsoever  we  ask, 
we  know  that  we  have  the  petitions  that  we  de- 
sired of  Him.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this 
petition  is  according  to  His  will,  because  it  is 
based  upon  many  a  promise.  May  I  give  it  to 
you  just  as  it  floats  through  my  own  mind  again 
and  again,  knowing  whom  I  have  believed,  and 
being  persuaded  that  He  is  able  to  keep  that 
which  I  have  committed  unto  Him  ? 

Keep  my  life,  that  it  may  be 
Consecrated,  Lord,  to  Thee. 

Keep  my  moments  and  my  days ; 
Let  them  flow  in  ceaseless  praise. 

Keep  my  hands  that  they  may  move 
At  the  impulse  of  Thy  love. 

Keep  my  feet  that  they  may  be, 
Swift  and  " beautiful"  for  Thee. 


1 8  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

Keep  my  voice  that  I  may  sing 
Always,  only,  for  my  King. 

Keep  my  lips,  that  they  may  be 
Filled  with  messages  from  Thee 

Keep  my  silver  and  my  gold ; 
Not  a  mite  would  I  withhold. 

Keep  my  intellect,  and  use 
Every  power  as  Thou  shalt  choose. 

Keep  my  will,  oh,  keep  it  Thine, 
For  it  is  no  longer  mine. 

Keep  my  heart ;  it  is  Thine  own, 
It  is  now  Thy  royal  throne. 

Keep  my  love ;  my  Lord,  I  pour 
At  Thy  feet  its  treasure-store. 

Keep  myself,  that  I  may  be 
Ever,  only,  ALL  for  Thee. 

Yes !  He  who  is  able  and  willing  to  take  unto 
Himself,  is  no  less  able  and  willing  to  keep  for 
Himself.  Our  willing  offering  has  been  made  by 
His  enabling  grace,  and  this  our  King  has  "seen 
with  joy."  And  now  we  pray,  "  Keep  this  for- 
ever in  the  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  the 
heart  of  Thy  people"  (i  Chron.  xxix.  17,  18). 


OUR  UVES  KSPT  FOR  JKSUS.  19 

This  blessed  "  taking  "  once  for  all,  which  we 
may  quietly  believe  as  an  accomplished  fact,  fol* 
lowed  by  the  continual  "  keeping "  for  which 
He  will  be  continually  inquired  of  by  us,  seems 
analogous  to  the  great  washing  by  which  we  have 
part  in  Christ,  and  the  repeated  washing  of  the 
feet  for  which  we  need  to  be  continually  coming 
to  Him.  For  with  the  deepest  and  sweetest  con- 
sciousness that  he  has,  indeed,  taken  our  lives  to 
be  his  very  own,  the  need  of  His  active  and  actual 
keeping  of  them  in  every  detail  and  at  every 
moment  is  most  fully  realized.  But  then  we  have 
the  promise  of  our  faithful  God,  "  I,  the  Lord,  do 
keep  it,  I  will  keep  it  night  and  day."  The  only 
question  is,  Will  we  trust  this  promise,  or  will  we 
not  ?  If  we  do,  we  shall  find  it  come  true.  If 
not,  of  course  it  will  not  be  realized.  For  un- 
claimed promises  are  like  uncashed  cheques;  they 
will  keep  us  from  bankruptcy,  but  not  from  want. 
But  if  not,  why  not?  What  right  have  we  to 
pick  out  one  of  His  faithful  sayings,  and  say  we 
don't  expect  Him  to  fulfill  that  ?  What  defence 
can  we  bring,  what  excuse  can  we  invent,  for  so 
doing  ? 

If  you  appeal  to  experience  against  His  faith- 


20  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

fulness  to  His  word,  I  will  appeal  to  experience 
too,  and  ask  you,  did  you  ever  really  trust  Jesus 
to  fulfill  any  word  of  His  to  you,  and  find  your 
trust  deceived  ?  As  to  the  past  experience  of  the 
details  of  your  life  not  being  kept  for  Jesus,  look 
a  little  more  closely  at  it,  and  you  will  find  that 
though  you  may  have  asked,  you  did  not  trust. 
Whatever  you  really  did  trust  Him  to  keep,  He 
has  kept,  and  the  unkept  things  were  never  really 
entrusted.  Scrutinize  this  past  experience  as  you 
will,  and  it  will  only  bear  witness  against  }our 
unfaithfulness,  never  against  His  absolute  faith- 
fulness. 

Yet  this  witness  must  not  be  unheeded.  We 
must  not  forget  the  things  that  are  behind  till 
they  are  confessed  and  forgiven.  Let  us  now 
bring  all  this  unsatisfactory  past  experience, 
and,  most  of  all,  the  want  of  trust  which  has 
been  the  poison-spring  of  its  course,  to  the  pre- 
cious blood  of  Christ,  which  cleanseth  us,  even 
us,  from  all  sin,  even  this  sin.  Perhaps  we  never 
saw  that  we  were  not  trusting  Jesus  as  He 
deserves  to  be  trusted  ;  if  so,  let  us  wonderingly 
hate  ourselves  the  more  that  we  could  be  so  trust- 
less to  such  a  Saviour,  and  so  sinfully  dark 


.          OUR  WVES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  21 

and  stupid  that  we  did  not  even  see  it.  And 
oh,  let  us  wonderingly  love  Him  the  more  that 
He  has  been  so  patient  and  gentle  with  us,  up- 
braiding not,  though  in  our  slow-hearted  foolish- 
ness we  have  been  grieving  Him  by  this  subtle 
unbelief ;  and  then  by  His  grace  may  we  enter 
upon  a  new  era  of  experience,  our  lives  kept 
for  Him  more  fully  than  ever  before,  because  we 
trust  Him  more  simply  and  unreservedly  to  keep 
them! 

Here  we  must  face  a  question,  and  perhaps  a 
difficulty.  Does  it  not  almost  seem  as  if  we  were 
at  this  point  led  to  trusting  to  our  trust,  making 
everything  hinge  upon  it,  and  thereby  only  re- 
moving a  subtle  dependence  upon  ourselves  one 
step  farther  back,  disguising  instead  of  renounc- 
ing it?  If  Christ's  keeping  depends  upon  our 
trusting,  and  our  continuiug  to  trust  depends 
upon  ourselves,  we  are  in  no  better  or  safer  posi- 
tion than  before,  and  shall  only  be  landed  in  a 
fresh  series  of  disappointments.  The  old  story, 
something  for  the  sinner  to  do,  crops  up  again 
here,  only  with  the  ground  shifted  from  "works1' 
to  trust.  Said  a  friend  to  me,  "I  see  now !  I 
did  trust  Jesus  to  do  everything  else  for  me,  but 


22  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

I  thought  that  this  trusting  was  something  that  / 
had  got  to  do."  And  so,  of  course,  what  she 
"had, got  to  do"  had  beem  a  perpetual  effort 
and  frequent  failure.  We  can  no  more  trust  and 
keep  on  trusting  than  we  can  do  anything  else  of 
ourselves.  Even  in  this  it  must  be  "  Jesus  only ;  " 
we  are  not  to  look  to  Him  only  to  be  the  Author 
and  Finisher  of  our  faith,  but  we  are  to  look  to 
Him  for  all  the  intermediate  fulfillment  of  the 
work  of  faith  (2  Thess.  i.  n);  we  must  ask  Him 
to  go  on  fulfilling  it  in  us,  committing  even  this 
to  His  power. 

For  we  both  may  and  must 

Commit  our  very  faith  to  Him, 

Entrust  to  Him  our  trust. 

What  a  long  time  it  takes  us  to  come  down  to 
the  conviction,  and  still  more  to  the  realization 
of  the  fact  that  without  Him  we  can  do  nothing, 
but  that  He  must  work  all  our  works  in  us !  This 
is  the  work  of  God,  that  ye  believe  in  Him  whom 
He  has  sent.  And  no  less  must  it  be  the  work  of 
God  that  we  go  on  believing,  and  that  we  go  on 
trusting.  Then,  dear  friends,  who  are  longing 
to  trust  Him  with  unbroken  and  unwavering 


OUR  UVES   KEPT   FOR  J3SUS.  23 

trust,  cease  the  effort  and  drop  the  burden,  and 
now  entrust  your  trust  to  Him !  He  is  just  as 
well  able  to  keep  that  as  any  other  part  of  the 
complex  lives  which  we  want  Him  to  take  and 
keep  for  Himself.  And  oh,  do  not  pass  on  con- 
tent with  the  thought,  "Yes,  that  is  a  good  idea; 
perhaps  I  should  find  that  a  great  help  ! ' '  But, 
"  Now,  then,  do  it"  It  is  no  help  to  the  sailor 
to  see  a  flash  of  light  across  a  dark  sea,  if  he  does 
not  instantly  steer  accordingly. 

Consecration  is  not  a  religiously  selfish  thing. 
If  it  sinks  into  that,  it  ceases  to  be  consecration. 
We  want  our  lives  kept,  not  that  we  may  feel 
happy,  and  be  saved  the  distress  consequent  on 
wandering,  and  get  the  power  with  God  and  man, 
and  all  the  other  privileges  linked  with  it.  We 
shall  have  all  this,  because  the  lower  is  included 
in  the  higher ;  but  our  true  aim,  if  the  love  of 
Christ  constraineth  us,  will  be  far  beyond  this. 
Not  for  "me"  at  all,  but  "for  Jesus;  "  not  for 
my  safety,  but  for  His  glory ;  not  for  my  comfort, 
but  for  His  joy;  not  that  I  may  find  rest,  but 
that  He  may  see  the  travail  of  His  soul,  and  be 
satisfied!  Yes,  for  Him  I  want  to  be  kept.  Kept 


24  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

for  His  sake ;  kept  for  His  use  ;  kept  to  be  His 
witness ;  kept  for  His  joy.  Kept  for  Him,  that 
in  me  He  may  show  forth  some  tiny  sparkle  of 
His  light  and  beauty;  kept  to  do  His  will  and 
His  work  in  His  own  way ;  kept,  it  may  be, 
to  suffer  for  His  sake ;  kept  for  Him,  that  He 
may  do  just  what  seemeth  Him  good  with  me  ; 
kept,  so  that  no  other  lord  shall  have  any  more 
dominion  over  me,  but  that  Jesus  shall  have  all 
there  is  to  have — little  enough,  indeed,  but  not 
divided  or  diminished  by  any  other  claim.  Is 
not  this,  O  you  who  love  the  Lord — is  not  this 
worth  living  for,  worth  asking  for,  worth  trust- 
ing for  ? 

This  is  consecration,  and  I  cannot  tell  you  the 
blessedness  of  it.  It  is  not  the  least  use  arguing 
with  one  who  has  had  but  a  taste  of  its  blessed- 
ness, and  saying  to  him,  "  How  can  these  things 
be  ?  "  It  is  not  the  least  use  starting  all  sorts  of 
difficulties  and  theoretical  suppositions  about  it 
with  such  a  one,  any  more  than  it  was  when  the 
Jews  argued  with  the  man  who  said,  "  One  thing 
I  know,  that  whereas  I  was  blind,  now  I  see." 
The  Lord  Jesus  does  take  the  life  that  is  offered 
to  Him,  and  He  does  keep  the  life  for  Himself 


OUR  I.IVKS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  25 

that  is  entrusted  to  Him ;  but  until  the  life  is 
offered  we  can  not  know  the  taking,  and  until 
the  life  is  entrusted  we  can  not  know  or  under* 
stand  the  keeping.  All  we  can  do  is  to  say,  "  O 
taste  and  see  !  * '  and  bear  witness  to  the  reality 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  set  to  our  seal  that  we  have 
found  Him  true  to  His  every  word,  and  that  we 
have  proved  Him  able  even  to  do  exceeding 
abundantly  above  all  we  asked  or  thought.  Why 
should  we  hesitate  to  bear  this  testimony  ?  We 
have  done  nothing  at  all ;  we  have,  in  all  our 
efforts,  only  proved  to  ourselves,  and  perhaps  to 
others,  that  we  had  no  power  either  to  give  or 
keep  our  lives. 

Why  should  we  not,  then,  glorify  His  grace 
by  acknowledging  that  we  have  found  Him  so 
wonderfully  and  tenderly  gracious  and  faith- 
ful in  both  taking  and  keeping  as  we  never 
supposed  or  imagined  ?  I  shall  never  forget  the 
smile  and  emphasis  with  which  a  poor  working- 
man  bore  this  witness  to  his  Lord.  I  said  to 
him,  "Well,  H.,  we  have  a  good  Master,  have 
we  not  ?  "  "Ah,"  said  he,  "a  deal  better  than 
ever  /  thought !"  That  summed  up  his  experi- 
ence, and  so  it  will  sum  up  the  experience  of  every 


26  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

one  who  will  but  yield  their  lives  wholly  to  the 
same  good  Master. 

I  can  not  close  this  chapter  without  a  word 
with  those,  especially  my  younger  friends,  who, 
although  they  have  named  the  name  of  Christ, 
are  saying,  "Yes,  this  is  all  very  well  for  some 
people,  or  for  older  people,  but  I  am  not  ready 
for  it;  I  can't  say  I  see  my  way  to  this  sort  of 
thing."  I  am  going  to  take  the  lowest  ground 
for  a  minute,  and  appeal  to  your  "  past  experi- 
ence." Are  you  satisfied  with  your  experience 
of  the  other  "sort  of  thing?"  Your  pleasant 
pursuits,  your  harmless  recreations,  your  nice 
occupations,  even  your  improving  ones,  what 
fruit  are  you  having  from  them?  Your  social 
intercourse,  your  daily  talks  and  walks,  your  in- 
vestments of  all  the  time  that  remains  to  you  over 
and  above  the  absolute  duties  God  may  have  given 
you,  what  fruit  that  shall  remain  have  you  from 
all  this  ?  Day  after  day  passes  on,  and  year  after 
year,  and  what  shall  the  harvest  be?  What  is 
even  the  present  return  ?  Are  you  getting  any  real 
and  lasting  satisfaction  out  of  it  all  ?  Are  you  not 
finding  that  things  lose  their  flavor,  and  that  you 


OUR  UVES   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  27 

are  spending  your  strength  day  after  day  for 
nought  ?  that  you  are  no  more  satisfied  than 
you  were  a  year  ago — rather  less  so,  if  any- 
thing ? 

Does  not  a  sense  of  hollowness  and  weariness 
come  over  you  as  you  go  on  in  the  same  round, 
perpetually  getting  through  things  only  to  begin 
again  ?  It  can  not  be  otherwise.  Over  even  the 
freshest  and  purest  earthly  fountains  the  Hand 
that  never  makes  a  mistake  has  written,  "  He 
that  drinketh  of  this  water  shall  thirst  again/' 
Look  into  your  own  heart  and  you  will  find  a 
copy  of  that  inscription  already  traced,  "Shall 
thirst  again."  And  the  characters  are  being 
deepened  with  every  attempt  to  quench  the  inevi- 
table thirst  and  weariness  in  life,  which  can  only 
be  satisfied  and  rested  in  full  consecration  to  God. 
For  "  Thou  hast  made  us  for  Thyself,  and  the 
heart  never  resteth  till  it  findeth  rest  in  Thee." 
To  day  I  tell  you  of  a  brighter  and  happier  life, 
whose  inscription  is,  (< Shall  never  thirst"  a  life 
that  is  no  dull  round-and -round  in  a  circle  of 
unsatisfactorinesses,  but  a  life  that  has  found  its 
true  and  entirely  satisfactory  centre,  and  set  itself 
towards  a  shining  and  entirely  satisfactory  goal, 


28  KE;pr  FOR  THE;  MA  .T^R'S  USE. 


whose  brightness  is  cast  over  every  step  of  the 
way.     Will  you  not  seek  it  ? 

Do  not  shrink,  and  suspect,  and  hang  back 
from  what  it  may  involve,  with  selfish  and  uncon- 
fiding  and  ungenerous  half-heartedness.  Take 
the  word  of  any  who  have  willingly  offered  them- 
selves unto  the  Lord,  that  the  life  of  consecration 
is  "  a  deal  better  than  they  thought  !  "  Choose 
this  day  whom  you  will  serve  with  real,  thorough- 
going, whole-hearted  service,  and  He  will  receive 
you  ;  and  you  will  find,  as  we  have  found,  that 
He  is  such  a  good  Master  that  you  are  satisfied 
with  His  goodness,  and  that  you  will  never  want 
to  go  out  free.  Nay,  rather  take  His  own  word 
for  it  ;  see  what  He  says  :  "  If  they  obey  and 
serve  Him,  they  shall  spend  their  days  in  pros- 
perity, and  their  years  in  pleasures."  You  can 
not  possibly  understand  that  till  you  are  really  in 
His  service  !  For  He  does  not  give,  nor  even 
show,  His  wages  before  you  enter  it.  And  He 
says,  "  My  servants  shall  sing  for  joy  of  heart.  " 
But  you  cannot  try  over  that  song  to  see  what  it 
is  like,  you  cannot  even  read  one  bar  of  it,  till 
your  nominal  or  even  promised  service  is  ex- 
changed for  real  and  undivided  consecration. 


OUR  UVES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  29 

But  when  He  can  call  you  "  My  "servant,"  then 
you  will  find  yourself  singing  for  joy  of  heart, 
because  He  says  you  shall. 

"And  who,  then,  is  willing  to  consecrate  his 
service  this  day  unto  the  Lord  ?  ' ' 

"  Do  not  startle  at  the  term,  or  think,  because 
you  do  not  understand  all  it  may  include,  you 
are  therefore  not  qualified  for  it.  I  dare  say  it 
comprehends  a  great  deal  more  than  either  you 
or  I  understand,  but  we  can  both  enter  into  the 
spirit  of  it,  and  the  detail  will  unfold  itself  as  long 
as  our  probation  shall  last.  Christ  demands  a 
hearty  consecration  in  will,  and  He  will  teach  us 
what  that  involves  in  act." 

This  explains  the  paradox  that  "  full  consecra- 
iiuti ' '  may  be  in  one  sense  the  act  of  a  moment, 
and  in  another  the  work  of  a  lifetime.  It  must  be 
complete  to  be  real,  and  yet,  if  real,  it  is  always 
incomplete ;  a  point  of  rest,  and  yet  a  perpetual 
progression. 

Suppose  you  make  over  a  piece  of  ground  to 
another  person.  You  give  it  up,  then  and  there, 
entirely  to  that  other ;  it  is  no  longer  in  your  own 
possession ;  you  no  longer  dig  and  sow,  plant  and 
reap,  at  your  discretion  or  for  your  own  profit. 


30  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  usic. 

His  occupation  of  it  is  total ;  no  other  has  any 
right  to  an  inch  of  it ;  it  is  his  affair  thenceforth 
what  crops  to  arrange  for  and  how  to  make  the 
most  of  it.  But  his  practical  occupation  of  it  may 
not  appear  all  at  once.  There  may  be  waste  land 
which  he  will  take  into  full  cultivation  only  by 
degrees,  space  wasted  for  want  of  draining  or  by 
over-fencing,  and  odd  corners  lost  for  want  of 
enclosing;  fields  yielding  smaller  returns  than 
they  might,  because  of  hedgerows  too  wide  and 
shady,  and  trees  too  many  and  spreading,  and 
strips  of  good  soil  trampled  into  uselessness  for 
want  of  defined  pathways. 

Just  so  is  it  with  our  lives.  The  transaction  of, 
so  to  speak,  making  them  over  to  God  is  definite 
and  complete.  But  then  begins  the  practical  de- 
velopment of  consecration.  And  here  He  leads 
on  "softly,  according  as  the  children  be  able  to 
endure. "  I  do  not  suppose  any  one  sees  anything 
like  all  that  it  involves  at  the  outset.  We  have 
not  a  notion  what  an  amount  of  waste  of  power 
there  has  been  in  our  lives;  we  never  measured 
out  the  odd  corners  and  the  undrained  bits,  and 
it  never  occurred  to  us  what  good  fruit  might  be 
grown  in  our  straggling  hedgerows,  nor  how  the 


OUR  UV£S  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  3! 

shade  of  our  trees  has  been  keeping  the  sun  from 
the  scanty  crops.  And  so,  season  by  season,  we 
shall  be  sometimes  not  a  little  startled,  yet  always 
very  glad,  as  we  find  that  bit  by  bit  the  Master 
shows  how  much  more  may  be  made  of  our  ground, 
how  much  more  He  is  able  to  make  of  it  than  we 
did ;  and  we  shall  be  willing  to  work  under  Him 
and  do  exactly  what  He  points  out,  even  if  it 
comes  to  cutting  down  a  shady  tree  or  clearing 
out  a  ditch  full  of  pretty  weeds  and  wild-flowers. 
As  the  seasons  pass  on,  it  will  seem  as  if  there 
was  always  more  and  more  to  be  done;  the  very 
fact  that  He  is  constantly  showing  us  something 
more  to  be  done  in  it,  proving  that  it  is  really 
His  ground.  Only  let  Him  have  the  ground,  no 
matter  how  poor  or  overgrown  the  soil  may  be, 
and  then  "  He  will  make  her  wilderness  like 
Eden,  and  her  desert  like  the  garden  of  the  Lord." 
Yes,  even  our  "desert!"  And  then  we  shall 
sing,  "  My  beloved  is  gone  down  into  His  garden, 
to  the  beds  of  spices,  to  feed  in  the  gardens  and 
to  gather  lilies." 

Made  for  Thyself,  O  God! 
Made  for  Thy  love,  Thy  service,  Thy  delight; 
Made  to  show  forth  Thy  wisdom,  grace,  and  might; 


$2  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

Made  for  Thy  praise,  whom  veiled  archangels  laud 
Oh,  strange  and  glorious  thought,  that  we  may  be 
A  joy  to  Thee ! 

Yet  the  heart  turns  away 
From  this  grand  destiny  of  bliss,  and  deems 
JTwas  made  for  its  poor  self,  for  passing  dreams. 
Chasing  illusions  melting  day  by  day, 
Till  for  ourselves  we  read  on  this  world's  be*t, 

"This  is  not  rest!" 


OUR  MOMENTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  33 

CHAPTER  II. 

OUR    MOMENTS    KEPT   FOR  JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  moments  and  my  days; 
Let  them  flow  in  ceaseless  praise." 

IT  may  be  a  little  help  to  writer  and  reader  if 
we  consider  some  of  the  practical  details  of  the 
life  which  we  desire  to  have  "  kept  for  Jesus  M 
in  the  order  of  the  little  hymn  at  the  beginning 
of  this  book,  with  the  one  word  "  take  "  changed 
to  " keep."     So  we  will  take  a  couplet  for  each 
chapter. 

The  first  point  that  naturally  comes  up  is  that 
which  is  almost  synonymous  with  life — our  time. 
And  this  brings  us  at  once  face  to  face  with  one 
of  our  past  difficulties,  and  its  probable  cause. 

When  we  take  a  wide  sweep,  we  are  so  apt  to 
be  vague.  When  we  are  aiming  at  generalities 
we  do  not  hit  the  practicalities.  We  forget  that 
faithfulness  to  principle  is  only  proved  by  faith- 
fulness in  detail.  Has  not  this  vagueness  had 
something  to  do  with  the  constant  ineffectiveness 
3 


34  KEPT  FOR  THE;  MASTER'S  USE. 

of  our  feeble  desire  that  our  time  should  be  de- 
voted to  God  ? 

In  things  spiritual,  the  greater  does  not  always 
include  the  less,  but,  paradoxically,  the  less  more 
often  includes  the  greater.  So  in  this  case,  time 
is  entrusted  to  us  to  be  traded  with  for  our  Lord. 
But  we  cannot  grasp  it  as  a  whole.  We  instinc- 
tively break  it  up  ere  we  can  deal  with  it  for  any 
purpose.  So  when  a  New  Year  comes  round,  we 
commit  it  with  special  earnestness  to  the  Lord. 
But  as  we  do  so,  are  we  not  conscious  of  a  feel- 
ing that  even  a  year  is  too  much  for  us  to  deal 
with?  And  does  not  this  feeling,  that  we  are 
dealing  with  a  larger  thing  than  we  can  grasp, 
take  away  from  the  sense  of  reality  ?  Thus  we  are 
brought  to  a  more  manageable  measure ;  and  as 
the  Sunday  mornings  or  the  Monday  mornings 
come  round,  we  thankfully  commit  the  opening 
week  to  Him,  and  the  sense  of  help  and  rest  is 
renewed  and  strengthened.  But  not  even  the  six 
or  seven  days  are  close  enough  to  our  hand,  even 
to-morrow  exceeds  our  tiny  grasp,  and  even  to- 
morrow's grace  is  therefore  not  given  to  us.  So 
we  find  the  need  of  considering  our  lives  as  a 
matter  of  day  by  day,  and  that  any  more  general 


OUR  MOMENTS   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  3$ 

committal  and  consecration  of  our  time  does  not 
meet  the  case  so  truly.  Here  we  have  found 
much  comfort  and  help,  and  if  results  have  not 
been  entirely  satisfactory,  they  have,  at  least, 
been  more  so  than  before  we  reached  this  point 
of  subdivision. 

But  if  we  have  found  help  and  blessing  by 
going  a  certain  distance  in  one  direction,  is  it 
not  probable  we  shall  find  more  if  we  go  farther 
in  the  same?  And  so,  if  we  may  commit  the 
days  to  our  Lord,  why  not  the  hours,  and  why 
not  the  moments?  And  may  we  not  expect  a 
fresh  and  special  blessing  in  so  doing  ? 

We  do  not  realize  the  importance  of  moments. 
Only  let  us  consider  those  two  sayings  of  God 
about  them,  "  In  a  moment  shall  they  die,"  and, 
"  We  shall  all  be  changed  in  a  moment, "  and  we 
shall  think  less  lightly  of  them.  Eternal  issues 
may  hang  upon  any  one  of  them,  but  it  has  come 
and  gone  before  we  can  even  think  about  it. 
Nothing  seems  less  within  the  possibility  of  our 
own  keeping,  yet  nothing  is  most  inclusive  of  all 
other  keeping.  Therefore  let  us  ask  Him  to 
keep  them  for  us. 

Are  they  not  the  tiny  joints  in  the  harness 


36  KEPT  FOR  THE;  MASTER'S  USE. 

through  which  the  darts  of  temptation  pierce  us  ? 
Only  give  us  time,  we  think,  and  we  should  not 
be  overcome.  Only  give  us  time,  and  we  could 
pray  and  resist,  and  the  devil  would  flee  from  us ! 
But  he  comes  all  in  a  moment ;  and  in  a  moment 
— an  unguarded,  unkept  one — we  utter  the  hasty 
or  exaggerated  word,  or  think  the  un-Christ-like 
thought,  or  feel  the  un-Christ-like  impatience  or 
resentment. 

But  even  if  we  have  gone  so  far  as  to  say, 
"Take  my  moments,"  have  we  gone  the  step 
farther,  and  really  let  Him  take  them — really  en- 
trusted them  to  Him  ?  It  is  no  good  saying 
"take,"  when  we  do  not  let  go.  How  can 
another  keep  that  which  we  are  keeping  hold  of? 
So  let  us,  with  full  trust  in  His  power,  first  com- 
mit these  slippery  moments  to  Him, — put  them 
right  into  His  hand, — and  then  we  may  trustfully 
and  happily  say,  "Lord,  keep  them  for  me! 
Keep  every  one  of  the  quick  series  as  it  arises. 
I  cannot  keep  them  for  Thee  ;  do  Thou  keep 
them  for  Thyself!" 

But  the  sanctified  and  Christ-loving  heart  can 
not  be  satisfied  with  only  negative  keeping  We 
do  not  want  only  to  be  kept  from  displeasing 


OUR  MOMENTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  37 

Him,  but  to  be  kept  always  pleasing  Him.  Every 
"  kept  from"  should  have  its  corresponding  and 
still  more  blessed  "keptyfrr."  We  do  not  want 
our  moments  to  be  simply  kept  from  Satan's  use, 
but  kept  for  His  use ;  we  want  them  to  be  not 
only  kept  from  sin,  but  kept  for  His  praise. 

Do  you  ask,  "  But  what  use  can  He  make  of 
mere  moments  ?  "  I  will  not  stay  to  prove  or 
illustrate  the  obvious  truth  that,  as  are  the  mo- 
ments so  will  be  the  hours  and  the  days  which 
they  build.  You  understand  that  well  enough. 
I  will  answer  your  question  as  it  stands. 

Look  back  through  the  history  of  the  Church 
in  all  ages,  and  mark  how  often  a  great  work  and 
mighty  influence  grew  out  of  a  mere  moment  in 
the  life  of  one  of  God's  servants ;  a  mere  moment, 
but  overshadowed  and  filled  with  the  fruitful 
power  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  The  moment  may 
have  been  spent  in  uttering  five  words,  but  they 
have  fed  five  thousand,  or  even  five  hundred 
thousand.  Or  it  may  have  been  lit  by  the  flash 
of  a  thought  that  has  shone  into  hearts  and  homes 
throughout  the  land,  and  kindled  torches  that 
have  been  borne  into  earth's  darkest  corners. 
The  rapid  speaker  or  the  lonely  thinker  little 


38  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

guessed  what  use  his  Lord  was  making  of  that 
single  moment.  There  was  no  room  in  it  for  even 
a  thought  of  that.  If  that  moment  had  not  been, 
though'  perhaps  unconsciously,  ' '  kept  for  Jesus, ' ' 
but  had  been  otherwise  occupied,  what  a  harvest 
to  His  praise  would  have  been  missed  ! 

The  same  thing  is  going  on  every  day.  It  is 
generally  a  moment — either  an  opening  or  a  cul- 
minating one — that  really  does  the  work.  It  is 
not  so  often  a  whole  sermon  as  a  single  short  sen- 
tence in  it,  that  wings  God's  arrow  to  a  heart. 
It  is  seldom  a  whole  conversation  that  is  the 
means  of  bringing  about  the  desired  result,  but 
some  sudden  turn  of  thought  or  word  which 
comes  with  the  electric  touch  of  God's  power. 
Sometimes  it  is  less  than  that ;  only  a  look  (and 
what  is  more  momentary  ?)  has  been  used  by  Him 
for  the  pulling  down  of  strongholds.  Again,  in 
our  own  quiet  waiting  upon  God,  as  moment  after 
moment  glides  past  in  the  silence  at  His  feet,  the 
eye  resting  upon  a  page  of  His  Word,  or  only 
looking  up  to  Him  through  the  darkness,  have  we 
not  found  that  He  can  so  irradiate  one  passing 
moment  with  His  light  that  its  rays  never  die 
away,  but  shine  on  and  on  through  days  and 


OUR  MOMENTS  KEPT  FOR  JBSUS.  39 

years?  Are  not  such  moments  proved  to  have 
been  kept  for  Him  ?  And  if  some,  why  not  all  ? 

This  view  of  moments  seems  to  make  it  clearer 
that  is  impossible  to  serve  two  masters,  for  it  is 
evident  that  the  service  of  a  moment  cannot  be 
divided.  If  it  is  occupied  in  the  service  of  self, 
or  any  other  master,  it  is  not  at  the  Lord's  dis- 
posal ;  He  cannot  make  use  of  what  is  already 
occupied. 

Oh,  how  much  we  have  missed  by  not  placing 
them  at  His  disposal !  What  might  He  not  have 
done  with  the  moments  freighted  with  self  or 
loaded  with  emptiness,  which  we  have  carelessly 
let  drift  by  !  Oh,  what  might  have  been  if  they 
had  all  been  kept  for  Jesus  !  How  He  might 
have  filled  them  with  His  light  and  life,  enrich- 
ing our  own  lives  that  have  been  impoverished  by 
the  waste,  and  using  them  in  far-spreading  bless- 
ing and  power ! 

While  we  have  been  undervaluing  these  frac- 
tions of  eternity,  what  has  our  gracious  God  been 
doing  in  them  ?  How  strangely  touching  are  the 
words,  "What  is  man,  that  Thou  shouldest  set 
Thine  heart  upon  him,  and  that  Thou  shouldest 
visit  him  every  morning,  and  try  him  every 


40  KEPT  FOR  THE)  MASTER'S   USK. 

moment?"  Terribly  solemn  and  awful  would 
be  the  thought  that  He  has  been  trying  us  every 
moment,  were  it  not  for  the  yearning  gentleness 
and  love  of  the  Father  revealed  in  that  wonderful 
expression  of  wonder,  "  What  is  man,  that  Thou 
shouldest  set  Thine  heart  upon  him  ?  ' '  Think 
of  that  ceaseless  setting  of  His  heart  upon  us, 
careless  and  forgetful  children  as  we  have  been  ! 
And  then  think  of  those  other  words,  none  the 
less  literally  true  because  given  under  a  figure :  "  I, 
the  Lord,  do  keep  it ;  I  will  water  it  every  moment" 
We  see  something  of  God's  infinite  greatness 
and  wisdom  when  we  try  to  fix  our  dazzled  gaze 
on  infinite  space.  But  when  we  turn  to  the  mar- 
vels of  the  microscope,  we  gain  a  clearer  view 
and  more  definite  grasp  of  these  attributes  by 
gazing  on  the  perfection  of  His  infinitesimal 
handiworks.  Just  so,  while  we  cannot  realize 
the  infinite  love  which  fills  eternity,  and  the  infi- 
nite vistas  of  the  great  future  are  "dark  with 
excess  of  light"  even  to  the  strongest  telescopes 
of  faith,  we  see  that  love  magnified  in  the  micro- 
scope of  the  moments,  brought  very  close  to  us, 
and  revealing  its  unspeakable  perfection  of  detail 
to  our  wondering  sight. 


OUR  MOMENTS   KEPT  FOR  JESUS,  41 

But  we  do  not  see  this  as  long  as  the  moments 
are  kept  in  our  own  hands.  We  are  like  little 
children  closing  our  fingers  over  diamonds. 
How  can  they  receive  and  reflect  the  rays  of 
light,  analyzing  them  into  all  the  splendor  of 
their  prismatic  beauty,  while  they  are  kept  shut 
up  tight  in  the  dirty  little  hands?  Give  them 
up ;  let  our  Father  hold  them  for  us,  and  throw 
His  own  great  light  upon  them,  and  then  we 
shall  see  them  full  of  fair  colors  of  His  manifold 
loving-kindnesses ;  and  let  Him  always  keep  them 
for  us;  and  then  we  shall  always  see  His  light  and 
His  love  reflected  in  them. 

And  then  surely  they  shall  be  filled  with  praise. 
Not  that  we  are  to  be  always  singing  hymns,  and 
using  the  expressions  of  other  people's  praise,  any 
more  than  the  saints  in  glory  are  always  literally 
singing  a  new  song.  But  praise  will  be  the  tone, 
the  color,  the  atmosphere  in  which  they  flow ; 
none  of  them  away  from  it  or  out  of  it. 

Is  it  a  little  too  much  for  them  all  to  "  flow  in 
ceaseless  praise  ?  ' '  Well,  were  will  you  stop  ? 
What  proportion  of  your  moments  do  you  think 
enough  for  Jesus  ?  How  many  for  the  spirit  of 
praise,  and  how  many  for  the  spirit  of  heavi- 


42  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

ness  ?  Be  explicit  •  about  it,  and  come  to  an 
understanding.  If  He  is  not  to  have  all,  then 
how  much  ?  Calculate,  balance,  and  apportion. 
You  will  not  be  able  to  do  this  in  heaven— you 
know  it  will  be  all  praise  there ;  but  you  are  free 
to  halve  your  service  of  praise  here,  or  to  make 
the  proportion  what  you  will. 

Yet, — He  made  you  for  His  glory. 

Yet, — He  chose  you  that  you  should  be  to  the 
praise  of  His  glory. 

Yet, — He  loves  you  every  moment,  waters  you 
every  moment,  watches  you  unslumberingly,  cares 
for  you  unceasingly. 

Yet, — He  died  for  you  ! 

Dear  friends,  one  can  hardly  write  it  without 
tears.  Shall  you  or  I  remember  all  this  love  and 
hesitate  to  give  all  our  moments  up  to  Him  ? 
Let  us  entrust  Him  with  them,  and  ask  Him  to 
keep  them  all,  every  single  one,  for  His  own 
beloved  self,  and  fill  them  all  with  His  praise, 
and  let  them  all  be  to  His  praise  ! 


OUR  HANDS   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  43 

CHAPTER  III. 

OUR   HANDS    KEPT   FOR  JESUS. 

'*  Keep  my  hands,  that  they  may  move 
At  the  impulse  of  Thy  love." 

WHEN  the  Lord  has  said  to  us,  "Is  thine 
heart  right,  as   My  heart   is  with   thy 
heart?"    the  next  word  seems   to   be, 
"If  it  be,  give  Me  thine  hand." 

What  a  call  to  confidence,  and  love,  and  free, 
loyal,  happy  service  is  this !  and  how  different 
will  the  result  of  its  acceptance  be  from  the  old 
lamentation:  "We  labor  and  have  no  rest;  we 
have  given  the  hand  to  the  Egyptians  and  to  the 
Assyrians."  In  the  service  of  these  "other 
lords,"  under  whatever  shape  they  have  presented 
themselves,  we  shall  have  known  something  of 
the  meaning  of  having  "  both  the  hands  full  with 
travail  and  vexation  of  spirit."  How  many  a 
thing  have  we  "  taken  in  hand,"  as  we  say,  which 
we  expected  to  find  an  agreeable  task,  an  interest 
in  life,  a  something  towards  filling  up  that  uncon- 


44  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

fessed  "aching  void  "  which  is  often  most  real 
when  least  acknowledged ;  and  after  a  while  we 
have  found  it  change  under  our  hands  into  irk- 
some travail,  involving  perpetual  vexation  of 
spirit !  The  thing  may  have  been  of  the  earth 
and  for  the  world,  and  then  no  wonder  it  failed 
to  satisfy  even  the  instinct  of  work,  which  comes 
natural  to  many  of  us.  Or  it  may  have  been 
right  enough  in  itself,  something  for  the  good  of 
others  so  far  as  we  understood  their  good,  and 
unselfish  in  all  but  unravelled  motive,  and  yet  we 
found  it  full  of  tangled  vexations,  because  the 
hands  that  held  it  were  not  simply  consecrated  to 
God.  Well,  if  so,  let  us  bring  these  soiled  and 
tangle-making  hands  to  the  Lord,  "Let  us  lift 
up  our  heart  with  our  hands"  to  Him,  asking 
Him  to  clear  and  cleanse  them. 

If  He  says,  "What  is  that  in  thine  hand?  "  let 
us  examine  honestly  whether  it  is  something  which 
He  can  use  for  His  glory  or  not.  If  not,  do  not  let 
us  hesitate  an  instant  about  dropping  it.  It  may 
be  something  we  do  not  like  to  part  with ;  but 
the  Lord  is  able  to  give  thee  much  more  than 
this,  and  the  first  glimpse  of  the  excellency  of 
the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  your  Lord  will 


OUR  HANDS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.         4$ 

enable  us  to  count  those  things  loss  which  were 
gain  to  us. 

But  if  it  is  something  which  He  can  use,  He 
will  make  us  do  ever  so  much  more  with  it  than 
before ,  Moses  little  thought  what  the  Lord  was 
going  to  make  him  do  with  that  "  rod  in  his 
hand  !  "  The  first  thing  he  had  to  do  with  it 
was  to  "  cast  it  on  the  ground,"  and  see  it  pass 
through  a  startling  change.  After  this  he  was 
commanded  to  take  it  up  again,  hard  and  terri- 
fying as  it  was  to  do  so.  But  when  it  became  again 
a  rod  in  his  hand,  it  was  no  longer  what  it  was 
before,  the  simple  rod  of  a  wandering  desert 
shepherd.  Henceforth  it  was  "  the  rod  of  God 
in  his  hand ' '  (Ex.  iv.  20),  wherewith  he  should 
do  signs,  and  by  which  God  Himself  would  do 
"  marvellous  things  "  (Ps.  Ixxviii.  12). 

If  we  look  at  any  Old  Testament  text  about 
consecration,  we  shall  see  that  the  marginal  read- 
ing of  the  word  is,  "fill  the  hand"  (e.  g.,  Ex. 
xxviii.  41 ;  i  Chron.  xxix.  5).  Now,  if  our  hands 
are  full  of  "  other  things,''  they  cannot  be  filled 
with  "  the  things  that  are  Jesus  Christ's;  '  there 
must  be  emptying  before  there  can  be  any  true 


46  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

filling.  So  if  we  are  sorrowfully  seeing  that  our 
hands  have  not  been  kept  for  Jesus,  let  us  humbly 
begin  at  the  beginning,  and  ask  Him  to  empty 
them  thoroughly,  that  He  may  fill  them  com- 
pletely. 

For  they  must  be  emptied.  Either  we  come 
to  our  Lord  willingly  about  it,  letting  Him  un- 
clasp their  hold,  and  gladly  dropping  the  glitter- 
ing weights  they  have  been  carrying,  or,  in  very 
love,  He  will  have  to  force  them  open,  and 
wrench  from  the  reluctant  grasp  the  "earthly 
things ' '  which  are  so  occupying  them  that  He 
cannot  have  His  rightful  use  of  them.  There  is 
only  one  other  alternative,  a  terrible  one, — to  be 
let  alone  till  the  day  comes  when  not  a  gentle 
Master,  but  the  relentless  king  of  terrors  shall 
empty  the  trembling  hands  as  our  feet  follow  him 
out  of  the  busy  world  into  the  dark  valley,  for 
"  it  is  certain  we  can  carry  nothing  out." 

Yet  the  emptying  and  the  filling  are  not  all 
that  has  to  be  considered.  Before  the  hands  of 
the  priests  could  be  filled  with  the  emblems  of 
consecration,  they  had  to  be  laid  upon  the  em- 
blem of  atonement  (Lev.  viii.  14,  etc.).  That 


OUR  HANDS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  47 

came  first.  "  Aaron  and  his  sons  laid  their 
hands  upon  the  head  of  the  bullock  for  the  sin- 
offering/'  So  the  transference  of  guilt  to  our 
Substitute,  typified  by  that  act,  must  precede  the 
dedication  of  ourselves  to  God. 

"  My  faith  would  lay  her  hand 

On  that  dear  head  of  Thine, 
While  like  a  penitent  I  stand, 
And  there  confess  my  sin." 

The  blood  of  that  Holy  Substitute  was  shed 
"  to  make  reconciliation  upon  the  altar."  With- 
out that  reconciliation  we  cannot  offer  and  pre- 
sent ourselves  to  God ;  but  this  being  made, 
Christ  Himself  presents  us.  And  you,  that  were 
sometime  alienated,  and  enemies  in  your  mind 
by  wicked  works,  yet  now  hath  He  reconciled  in 
the  body  of  His  flesh  through  death,  to  present 
you  holy  and  unblamable  and  unreprovable  in 
His  sight. 

Then  Moses  "  brought  the  ram  for  the  burnt- 
offering;  and  Aaron  and  his  sons  laid  their 
hands  upon  the  head  of  the  ram,  and  Moses 
burnt  the  whole  ram  upon  the  altar;  it  was  a 
burnt-offering  for  a  sweet  savor,  and  an  offering 


48  KSPT  FOR  THE;  MASTER'S  USE. 

made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord."  Thus  Christ's 
offering  was,  indeed,  a  whole  one,  body,  soul 
and  spirit,  each  and  all  suffering  even  unto 
death.  These  atoning  sufferings,  accepted  by 
God  for  us,  are,  by  our  own  free  act,  accepted 
by  us  as  the  ground  of  our  acceptance. 

Then,  reconciled  and  accepted,  we  are  ready 
for  consecration ;  for  then  "  he  brought  the  other 
ram,  the  ram  of  consecration  :  and  Aaron  and 
his  sons  laid  their  hands  upon  the  head  of  the 
ram."  Here  we  see  Christ,  "  who  is  consecrated 
forevermore."  We  enter  by  faith  into  union 
with  Him  who  said,  "  For  their  sakes  I  sanctify 
Myself,  that  they  also  might  be  sanctified 
through  the  truth. " 

After  all  this  their  hands  were  filled  with 
"  consecrations  for  a  sweet  savor,"  so,  after  lay- 
ing the  hand  of  our  faith  upon  Christ,  suffering 
and  dying  for  us,  we  are  to  lay  that  very  same 
hand  of  faith,  and  in  the  very  same  way  upon 
Him  as  consecrated  for  us,  to  be  the  source  and 
life  and  power  of  our  consecration.  And  then 
our  hands  shall  be  filled  with  "consecrations," 
filled  with  Christ,  and  filled  with  all  that  is  a 
sweet  savor  to  God  in  Him. 


OUR  HANDS   KEPI"   FOR  JESUS.  49 

"And  who  then  is  willing  to  fill  his  hand  this 
day  unto  the  Lord  ?  ' '  Do  you  want  an  added 
motive?  Listen  again  :  "  Fill  your  hands  to-day 
to  the  Lord,  that  He  may  bestow  upon  you  a 
blessing  this  day. ' '  Not  a  long  time  hence,  not 
even  to-morrow,  but  "this  day."  Do  you  not 
want  a  blessing?  Is  not  your  answer  to  your 
Father's  "What  wilt  thou?"  the  same  as  Ach- 
sah's,  "Give  me  a  blessing!"  Here  is  His 
promise  of  just  what  you  so  want ;  will  you  not 
gladly  fulfill  His  condition?  A  blessing  shall 
immediately  follow.  He  does  not  specify  what  it 
shall  be ;  He  waits  to  reveal  it.  You  will  find  it 
such  a  blessing  as  you  had  not  supposed  could  be 
for  you — a  blessing  that  shall  verily  make  you 
rich,  with  no  sorrow  added — a  blessing  this  day. 

All  that  has  been  said  about  consecration  ap- 
plies to  our  literal  members.  Stay  a  minute,  and 
look  at  your  hand,  the  hand  that  holds  this  little 
book  as  you  read  it.  See  how  wonderfully  it  is 
made;  how  perfectly  fitted  for  what  it  has  to  do; 
how  ingeniously  connected  with  the  brain,  so  as 
to  yield  that  instantaneous  and  instinctive  obedi- 
ence without  which  its  beautiful  mechanism  would 
be  very  littk  good  to  us !  Your  hand,  do  you 
4 


50  KEPT  FOR  THE;  MASTER'S  USE. 

say?  Whether  it  is  soft  and  fair  with  an  easy 
life,  or  rough  and  strong  with  a  working  one,  or 
white  and  weak  with  illness,  it  is  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ's.  It  is  not  your  own  at  all;  it  belongs  to 
Him.  He  made  it,  for  without  Him  was  not 
anything  made  that  was  made,  not  even  your 
hand.  And  He  has  the  added  right  of  purchase 
— He  has  bought  it  that  it  might  be  one  of  His 
own  instruments.  We  know  this  very  well,  but 
have  we  realized  it  ?  Have  we  really  let  Him 
have  the  use  of  these  hands  of  ours  ?  and  have  we 
ever  simply  and  sincerely  asked  Him  to  keep 
them  for  His  own  use  ? 

Does  this  mean  that  we  are  always  to  be  doing 
some  definitely  "religious"  work,  as  it  is  called? 
No,  but  that  all  that  we  do  is  to  be  always  defi- 
nitely done  for  Him.  There  is  a  great  difference. 
If  the  hands  are  indeed  moving  ' '  at  the  impulse 
of  His  love,'7  the  simplest  little  duties  and  acts 
are  transfigured  into  holy  service  to  the  Lord. 

"  A  servant  with  this  clause 
Makes  drudgery  divine; 
Who  sweeps  a  room  as  for  Thy  laws, 
Makes  that  and  the  action  fine." 

GEORGE  HERBERT. 


OUR  HANDS   KKPT  FOR  J^SUS.  51 

A  Christian  school-girl  loves  Jesus ;  she  wants 
to  please  Him  all  day  long,  and  so  she  practices 
her  scales  carefully  and  conscientiously.  It  is  at 
the  impulse  of  His  love  that  her  fingers  move  so 
steadily  through  the  otherwise  tiresome  exercises. 
Some  day  her  Master  will  find  a  use  for  her  music ; 
but  meanwhile  it  may  be  just  as  really  done  unto 
Him  as  if  it  were  Mr.  Sankey  at  his  organ,  sway- 
ing the  hearts  of  thousands.  The  hand  of  a  Chris- 
tian lad  traces  his  Latin  verses,  or  his  figures  or  his 
copying.  He  is  doing  his  best,  because  a  banner 
has  been  given  him  that  it  may  be  displayed,  not 
so  much  by  talk  as  by  continuance  in  well-doing. 
And  so,  for  Jesus'  sake,  his  hand  moves  accurately 
and  perseveringly. 

A  busy  wife,  or  daughter,  or  servant  has  a 
number  of  little  manual  duties  to  perform.  If 
these  are  done  slowly  and  leisurely,  they  may  be 
got  through ;  but  there  will  not  be  time  left  for 
some  little  service  to  the  poor,  or  some  little 
kindness  to  a  suffering  or  troubled  neighbor,  or 
for  a  little  quiet  time  alone  with  God  and  His 
word.  And  so  the  hands  move  quickly,  impelled 
by  the  loving  desire  for  service  or  communion, 
kept  in  busy  motion  for  Jesus'  sake.  Or  it  may 


$2  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

be  that  the  special  aim  is  to  give  no  occasion  of 
reproach  to  some  who  are  watching,  but  so  to 
adorn  the  doctrine  that  those  may  be  won  by  the 
life  who  will  not  be  won  by  the  word.  Then  the 
hands  will  have  their  share  to  do ;  they  will  move 
carefully,  neatly,  perhaps  even  elegantly,  making 
everything  around  as  nice  as  possible,  letting  their 
intelligent  touch  be  seen  in  the  details  of  the 
home,  and  even  of  the  dress,  doing  or  arranging 
all  the  little  things  decently  and  in  order  for  Jesus' 
sake.  And  so  on  with  every  duty  in  every  position. 
It  may  seem  an  odd  idea,  but  a  simple  glance 
at  one's  hand,  with  the  recollection,  "This  hand 
is  not  mine ;  it  has  been  given  to  Jesus,  and  it 
must  be  kept  for  Jesus,"  may  sometimes  turn  the 
scale  in  a  doubtful  matter,  and  be  a  safeguard  from 
certain  temptations.  With  that  thought  fresh  in 
your  mind  as  you  look  at  your  hand,  can  you  let 
it  take  up  things  which,  to  say  the  very  least,  are 
not  "  for  Jesus?  "  things  which  evidently  cannot 
be  used,  as  they  most  certainly  are  not  used,  either 
for  Him  or  by  Him  ?  Cards,  for  instance  !  Can 
you  deliberately  hold  in  it  books  of  a  kind  which 
you  know  perfectly  well,  by  sadly  repeated  experi- 
ence, lead  you  farther  from  instead  of  nearer  to 


OUR  HANDS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  53 

Him  ?  books  which  must  and  do  fill  your  mind 
with  those  "other  things"  which,  entering  in, 
choke  the  word?  books  which  you  would  not 
care  to  read  at  all,  if  your  heart  were  burning 
within  you  at  the  coming  of  His  feet  to  bless  you  ? 
Next  time  any  temptation  of  this  sort  approaches, 
just  look  at  your  hand  ! 

It  was  of  a  literal  hand  that  our  Lord  Jesus 
spoke  when  He  said,  "Behold,  the  hand  of  him 
that  betrayeth  Me  is  with  Me  on  the  table ; ' ' 
and,  "  He  that  dippeth  his  hand  with  Me  in  the 
dish,  the  same  shall  betray  Me."  A  hand  so 
near  to  Jesus,  with  Him  on  the  table,  touching 
His  own  hand  in  the  dish  at  that  hour  of  sweet- 
est, and  closest,  and  most  solemn  intercourse,  and 
yet  betraying  Him  !  That  same  hand  taking  the 
thirty  pieces  of  silver !  What  a  tremendous  les- 
son of  the  need  of  keeping  for  our  hands !  Oh 
that  every  hand  that  is  with  Him  at  His  sacra- 
mental table,  and  that  takes  the  memorial  bread, 
may  be  kept  from  any  faithless  and  loveless 
motion  !  And  again,  it  was  by  literal  "  wicked 
hands ' '  that  our  Lord  Jesus  was  crucified  and 
slain.  Does  not  the  thought  that  human  hands 
have  been  so  treacherous  and  cruel  to  our  beloved 


54  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

Lord,  make  us  wish  the  more  fervently  that  our 
hands  may  be  totally  faithful  and  devoted  to 
Him? 

Danger  and  temptation  to  let  the  hands  move 
at  other  impulses  is  every  bit  as  great  to  those 
who  have  nothing  else  to  do  but  to  render  direct 
service,  and  who  think  they  are  doing  nothing 
else.  Take  one  practical  instance — our  letter- 
writing.  Have  we  not  been  tempted  (and  fallen 
before  the  temptation),  according  to  our  various 
dispositions,  to  let  the  hand  that  holds  the  pen 
move  at  the  impulse  to  write  an  unkind  thought 
of  another ;  or  to  say  a  clever  and  sarcastic  thing, 
or  a  slightly  colored  and  exaggerated  thing,  which 
will  make  our  point  more  telling ;  or  to  let  out 
a  grumble  or  a  suspicion ;  or  to  let  the  pen  run 
away  with  us  into  flippant  and  trifling  words, 
unworthy  of  our  high  and  holy  calling?  Have  we 
not  drifted  away  from  the  golden  reminder, 
"  Should  he  reason  with  unprofitable  talk,  and 
with  speeches  wherewith  he  can  do  no  good?  " 
Why  has  this  been,  perhaps  again  and  again  ?  Is 
it  not  for  want  of  putting  our  hands  into  our 
dear  Master's  hand,  and  asking  and  trusting  Him 


OUR   HANDS   K^PT   FOR  JESUS.  55 

to  keep  them  ?  He  could  have  kept ;  He  would 
have  kept ! 

Whatever  our  work  or  our  special  temptations 
may  be,  the  principle  remains  the  same,  only  let 
us  apply  it  for  ourselves. 

Perhaps  one  hardly  needs  to  say  that  the  kept 
hands  will  be  very  gentle  hands.  Quick,  angry 
motions  of  the  heart  will  sometimes  force  them- 
selves into  expression  by  the  hand,  though  the 
tongue  may  be  restrained.  The  very  way  in 
which  we  close  a  door  or  lay  down  a  book  may  be 
a  victory  or  a  defeat,  a  witness  to  Christ's  keep- 
ing or  a  witness  that  we  are  not  truly  being  kept. 
How  can  we  expect  that  God  will  use  this  member 
as  an  instrument  of  righteousness  unto  Him,  if 
we  yield  it  thus  as  an  instrument  of  unright- 
eousness unto  sin  ?  Therefore  let  us  see  to  it,  that 
it  is  at  once  yielded  to  Him  whose  right  it  is ; 
and  let  our  sorrow  that  it  should  have  been  even 
for  an  instant  desecrated  to  Satan's  use,  lead  us  to 
entrust  it  henceforth  to  our  Lord,  to  be  kept  by 
the  power  of  God  through  faith  "for  the  Master's 
use." 

For  when  the  gentleness  of  Christ  dwells  in 
us,  He  can  use  the  merest  touch  of  a  finger. 


56  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

Have  you  not  heard  of  one  gentle  touch  on  a 
wayward  shoulder  being  the  turning-point  of  a 
life?  I  have  known  a  case  in  which  the  Master 
made  use  of  less  than  that — only  the  quiver  of  a 
little  finger  being  made  the  means  of  touching  a 
wayward  heart. 

What  must  the  touch  of  the  Master's  own  hand 
have  been  !  One  imagines  it  very  gentle,  though 
so  full  of  power.  Can  He  not  communicate  both 
the  power  and  the  gentleness?  When  He  touched 
the  hand  of  Peter's  wife's  mother,  she  arose  and 
ministered  unto  them.  Do  you  not  think  the 
hand  which  Jesus  had  just  touched  must  have 
ministered  very  excellently?  As  we  ask  Him  to 
"touch  our  lips  with  living  fire,"  so  that  they 
may  speak  effectively  for  Him,  may  we  not  ask 
Him  to  touch  our  hands,  that  they  may  minister 
effectively,  and  excel  in  all  that  they  find  to  do 
for  Him  ?  Then  our  hands  shall  be  made  strong 
by  the  hands  of  the  Mighty  God  of  Jacob. 

It  is  very  pleasant  to  feel  that  if  our  hands  are 
indeed  our  Lord's,  we  may  ask  Him  to  guide 
them  and  strengthen  them,  and  teach  them.  I 
do  not  mean  figuratively,  but  quite  literally.  In 


OUR  HANDS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  57 

everything  they  do  for  Him  (and  that  should  be 
everything  we  ever  tmdertake),  we  want  to  do  it 
well — better  and  better.  "  Seek  that  ye  may 
excel."  We  are  too  apt  to  think  that  He  has 
given  us  certain  natural  gifts,  but  has  nothing 
practically  to  do  with  the  improvement  of  them, 
and  leaves  us  to  ourselves  for  that.  Why  not  ask 
Him  to  make  these  hands  of  ours  more  handy  for 
His  service,  more  skillful  in  what  is  indicated  as 
the  "  next  thynge ' '  they  are  to  do  ?  The  "  kept'  ' 
hands  need  not  be  clumsy  hands.  If  the  Lord 
taught  David's  hands  to  war  and  his  fingers  to 
fight,  will  He  not  teach  our  hands,  and  fingers 
too,  to  do  what  He  would  have  them  do  ? 

The  Spirit  of  God  must  have  taught  Bezaleel's 
hands  as  well  as  his  head,  or  he  was  filled  with  it 
not  only  that  he  might  devise  cunning  works,  but 
also  in  cutting  of  stones  and  carving  of  timber. 
And  when  all  the  women  that  were  wise- hearted 
did  spin  with  their  hands,  the  hands  must  have 
been  made  skillful  as  well  as  the  hearts  made  wise 
to  prepare  the  beautiful  garments  and  curtains. 

There  is  a  very  remarkable  instance  of  the 
hand  of  the  Lord,  which  I  suppose  signifies  in 
that  case  the  power  of  His  Spirit,  being  upon  the 


$8  KEPT   FOR  THE   MASTER'S   USE. 

hand  of  a  man.  In  i  Chron.  xxix.  19,  we  read: 
"  All  this,"  said  David,  "the  Lord  made  me  un- 
derstand in  writing  by  His  hand  upon  me,  even 
all  the  works  of  this  pattern. ' '  This  can  not  well 
mean  that  the  Lord  gave  David  a  miraculously- 
written  scroll,  because  a  few  verses  before,  it  says 
that  he  had  it  all  by  the  Spirit.  So  what  else 
can  it  mean  but  that  as  David  wrote,  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  was  upon  his  hand,  impelling  him  to 
trace,  letter  by  letter,  the  right  words  of  descrip- 
tion for  all  the  details  of  the  temple  that  Solomon 
should  build,  with  its  courts  and  chambers,  its 
treasuries  and  vessels  ?  Have  we  not  sometimes 
sat  down  to  write,  feeling  perplexed  and  ignorant, 
and  wishing  some  one  were  there  to  tell  us  what 
to  say  ?  At  such  a  moment,  whether  it  were  a 
mere  note  for  post,  or  a  sheet  for  press,  it  is  a 
great  comfort  to  recollect  this  mighty  laying  of 
a  Divine  hand  upon  a  human  one,  and  ask  for 
the  same  help  from  the  same  Lord.  It  is  sure  to 
be  given  ! 

And  now,  dear  friend,  what  about  your  own 
hands?  Are  they  consecrated  to  the  Lord  who 
loves  you?  And  if  they  are,  are  you  trusting 


OUR   HANDS   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  59 

Him  to  keep  them,  and  enjoying  all  that  is  in- 
volved in  that  keeping  ?  Do  let  this  be  settled 
with  your  Master  before  you  go  on  to  the  next 
chapter. 

After  all,  this  question  will  hinge  on  another : 
Do  you  love  Him  ?  If  you  really  do,  there  can 
surely  be  neither  hesitation  about  yielding  them 
to  Him,  nor  about  entrusting  them  to  Him  to  be 
kept.  Does  He  love  you  ?  That  is  the  truer 
way  of  putting  it ;  for  it  is  not  our  love  to  Christ, 
but  the  love  of  Christ  to  us  which  constraineth 
us.  And  this  is  the  impulse  of  the  motion  and 
the  mode  of  the  keeping.  The  steam  engine 
does  not  move  when  the  fire  is  not  kindled,  nor 
when  it  is  gone  out ;  no  matter  how  complete 
the  machinery  and  abundant  the  fuel,  cold  coals 
will  neither  set  it  going  nor  keep  it  working. 
Let  us  ask  Him  so  to  shed  abroad  his  love  in  our 
hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  given  unto  us, 
that  it  may  be  the  perpetual  and  only  impulse  of 
every  action  of  our  daily  life. 


60  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

OUR   FEET    KEPT   FOR   JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  feet,  that  they  may  be 
Swift  and  beautiful  for  Thee." 

THE  figurative  keeping  of  the  feet  of  His 
saints,  with  the  promise  that  when  they 
run  they  shall  not  stumble,  is  a  most  beau- 
tiful and  helpful  subject.  But  it  is  quite  distinct 
from  the  literal  keeping  for  Jesus  of  our  literal 
feet. 

There  is  a  certain  homeliness  about  the  idea 
which  helps  to  make  it  very  real.  These  very  feet 
of  ours  are  purchased  for  Christ's  service  by  the 
precious  drops  which  fell  from  His  own  torn  and 
pierced  feet  upon  the  cross.  They  are  to  be  His 
errand-runners.  How  can  we  let  the  world,  the 
flesh,  and  the  devil  have  the  use  of  what  has  been 
purchased  with  such  payment? 

Shall '  <  the  world  ' '  have  the  use  of  them  ?  Shall 
they  carry  us  where  the  world  is  paramount,  and 
the  Master  cannot  be  even  named  because  the 


OUR  FEET  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  6l 

mention  of  His  name  would  be  so  obviously  out 
of  place?  I  know  the  apparent  difficulties  of  a 
subject  which  will  at  once  occur  in  connection 
with  this,  but  they  all  vanish  when  our  bright 
banner  is  loyally  unfurled,  with  its  motto,  "All 
for  Jesus ! ' '  Do  you  honestly  want  your  very 
feet  to  be  "kept  for  Jesus  !  "  Let  these  simple 
words,  "Kept  for  Jesus"  ring  out  next  time  the 
dancing  difficulty  or  any  other  difficulty  of  the 
same  kind  comes  up,  and  I  know  what  the  result 
will  be ! 

Shall  "  the  flesh  "  have  the  use  of  them  ?  Shall 
they  carry  us  hither  and  thither  merely  because 
we  like  to  go,  merely  because  it  pleases  ourselves 
to  take  this  walk  or  pay  this  visit  ?  And  after  all, 
what  a  failure  it  is  !  If  people  only  would  believe 
it,  self-pleasing  is  always  a  failure  in  the  end.  Our 
good  Master  gives  us  a  reality  and  fulness  of 
pleasure  in  pleasing  Him  which  we  never  get  out 
of  pleasing  ourselves. 

Shall  "  the  devil "  have  the  use  of  them  ?  Oh, 
no,  of  course  not !  We  start  back  at  this,  as  a 
highly  unnecessary  question.  Yet  if  Jesus  has 
not,  Satan  has.  For  as  all  are  serving  either  the 
Prince  of  Life  or  the  prince  of  this  world,  and 


62  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

as  no  man  can  serve  two  masters,  it  follows  that 
if  we  are  not  serving  the  one,  we  are  serving  the 
other.  And  Satan  is  only  too  glad  to  disguise 
this  service  under  the  less  startling  form  of  the 
world,  or  the  still  less  startling  one  of  self.  All 
that  is  not  "kept  for  Jesus/'  is  left  for  self  or 
the  world,  and  therefore  for  Satan. 

There  is  no  fear  but  that  our  Lord  will  have 
many  uses  for  what  is  kept  by  Him  for  Himself. 
"  How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of  them  that  bring 
glad  tidings  of  good  things ! ' '  That  is  the  best 
use  of  all ;  and  I  expect  the  angels  think  those 
feet  beautiful,  even  if  they  are  cased  in  muddy 
boots  or  goloshes. 

Once  the  question  was  asked,  "  Wherefore  wilt 
thou  run,  my  son,  seeing  that  thou  hast  no  tid- 
ings ready?  "  So  if  we  want  to  have  these  beau- 
tiful feet,  we  must  have  the  tidings  ready  which 
they  are  to  bear.  Let  us  ask  Him  to  keep  our 
hearts  so  freshly  full  of  His  good  news  of  salva- 
tion that  our  mouths  may  speak  out  of  their 
abundance.  ( '  If  the  clouds  be  full  of  rain  they 
empty  themselves  upon  the  earth. "  The  "  two 
olive  branches  empty  the  golden  oil  out  of  them- 


OUR  FEET  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  63 

selves."  May  we  be  so  filled  with  the  Spirit 
that  we  may  thus  have  much  to  pour  out  for 
others ! 

Besides  the  great  privilege  of  carrying  water 
from  the  wells  of  salvation,  there  are  plenty  of 
cups  of  cold  water  to  be  carried  in  all  directions; 
not  to  the  poor  only, — ministries  of  love  are 
often  as  much  needed  by  a  rich  friend.  But 
the  feet  must  be  kept  for  these;  they  will  be 
too  tired  for  them  if  they  are  tired  out  for  self- 
pleasing.  In  such  services  we  are  treading  in  the 
blessed  steps  of  His  most  holy  life,  who  "went 
about  doing  good." 

Then  there  is  literal  errand-going, — just  to  fetch 
something  that  is  needed  for  the  household,  or 
something  that  a  tired  relative  wants,  whether 
asked  or  unasked.  Such  things  should  come  first 
instead  of  last,  because  these  are  clearly  indicated 
as  our  Lord's  will  for  us  to  do,  by  the  position  in 
which  He  has  placed  us ;  while  what  seems  more 
direct  service,  may  be  after  all  not  so  directly 
apportioned  by  Him.  "  I  have  to  go  and  buy  some 
soap,"  said  one  with  a  little  sigh.  The  sigh  was 
waste  of  breath,  for  her  feet  were  going  to  do  her 
*,ord's  will  for  that  next  half-hour  much  more 


64  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

truly  than  if  they  had  carried  her  to  her  well- 
worked  district,  and  left  the  soap  to  take  its 
chance. 

A  member  of  the  Young  Women's  Christian 
Association  wrote  a  few  words  on  this  subject, 
which,  I  think,  will  be  welcome  to  many  more 
than  she  expected  them  to  reach  : 

"  May  it  not  be  a  comfort  to  those  of  us  who 
feel  we  have  not  the  mental  or  spiritual  power 
that  others  have,  to  notice  that  the  living  sacrifice 
mentioned  in  Rom.  xii.  i  is  our  '  bodies  ?  '  Of 
course,  that  includes  the  mental  power,  but  does  it 
not  also  include  the  loving,  sympathizing  glance, 
the  kind,  encouraging  word,  the  ready  errand  for 
another,  the  work  of  our  hands,  opportunities  for 
all  of  which  come  oftener  in  the  day  than  for  the 
mental  power  we  are  often  tempted  to  envy? 
May  we  be  enabled  to  offer  willingly  that  which 
we  have."  For  if  there  be  first  a  willing  mind, 
it  is  accepted  according  to  that  a  man  hath,  and 
not  according  to  that  he  hath  not. 

If  our  feet  are  to  be  kept  at  His  disposal  our 
eyes  must  be  ever  toward  the  Lord  for  guidance. 
We  must  look  to  Him  for  our  orders  where  to  go. 
Then  He  will  be  sure  to  give  them.  "  The  step? 


OUR   FEET   KEPT   FOR  JESUS.  65 

of  a  good  man  are  ordered  by  the  Lord."  Very 
often  we  find  that  they  have  been  so  very  literally 
ordered  for  us  that  we  are  quite  astonished, — just 
as  if  He  had  not  promised  ! 

Do  not  smile  at  a  very  homely  thought !  If 
our  feet  are  not  our  own,  ought  we  not  to  take 
care  of  them  for  Him  whose  they  are?  Is  it 
quite  right  to  be  reckless  about  "  getting  wet  feet," 
which  might  be  guarded  against  either  by  fore- 
thought or  after- thought,  when  there  is,  at  least, 
a  risk  of  hindering  our  service  thereby?  Does  it 
please  the  Master  when  even  in  our  zeal  for  His 
work  we  annoy  anxious  friends  by  carelessness  in 
little  things  of  this  kind  ? 

May  every  step  of  our  feet  be  more  and  mon 
like  those  of  our  beloved  Master.  Let  us  continu- 
ally consider  Him  in  this,  and  go  where  He  would 
have  gone,  on  the  errands  which  He  would  have 
done,  "  following  hard  "  after  Him.  And  let  us 
look  on  to  the  time  when  our  feet  shall  stand  in 
the  gates  of  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  when  holy 
feet  shall  tread  the  streets  of  the  holy  city;  no 
longer  pacing  any  lonely  path,  for  He  hath  said, 
61  They  shall  walk  with  Me  in  white." 


66  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

"  And  He  hath  said,  <  How  beautiful  the  feet ! ' 
The  '  feet '  so  weary,  travel-stained,  and  worn— = 
The  '  feet '  that  humbly,  patiently  have  borne 

The  toilsome  way,  the  pressure,  and  the  heat. 

"The  'feet,'  not  hasting  on  with  winged  might, 
Nor  strong  to  trample  down  the  opposing  foe ; 
So  lowly,  and  so  human,  they  must  go 

By  painful  steps  to  scale  the  mountain  height. 

"Not  unto  all  the  tuneful  lips  are  given, 
The  ready  tongue,  the  words  so  strong  and  sweetc 
Yet  all  may  turn,  with  humble,  willing  'feet,' 

And  bear  to  darkened  souls  the  light  from  heaven. 

"And  fall  they  while  the  goal  far  distant  lies, 
With  scarce  a  word  yet  spoken  for  their  Lord — 
His  sweet  approval  He  doth  yet  accord ; 
Their  *  feet '  are  beauteous  in  the  Master's  eyes. 

"With  weary  human  'feet '  He,  day  by  day, 
Once  trod  this  earth  to  work  His  acts  of  love ; 
And  every  step  is  chronicled  above 
His  servants  take  to  follow  in  His  way." 

SARAH  GERALDINA  STOCKC 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  67 

CHAPTER  V. 

OUR   VOICES    KEPT    FOR  JESUS. 

«'  Keep  my  voice,  and  let  me  sing 
Alvr'ays,  only,  for  my  King." 

1HAVE  wondered  a  little  at  being  told  by  an 
experienced  worker,  that  in  many  cases  the 
voice  seems  the  last  and  hardest  thing  to  yield 
entirely  to  the  King ;  and  that  many  who  think 
and  say  they  have  consecrated  all  to  the  Lord  and 
His  service,  "  revolt M  when  it  comes  to  be  a 
question  whether  they  shall  sing  "always,  only," 
for  their  King.  They  do  not  mind  singing  a  few 
general  sacred  songs,  but  they  do  not  see  their 
way  to  really  singing  always  and  only  unto  and 
for  Him.  They  want  to  bargain  and  balance  a 
little.  They  question  and  argue  about  what  pro- 
portion they  may  keep  for  self-pleasing  and  com- 
pany-pleasing, and  how  much  they  must  "give 
up;  "  and  who  will  and  who  won't  like  it;  and 
what  they  "  really  must  sing,  - *  and  what  they 
"  really  must  net  smg ' '  at  certain  times  and  places ; 


68  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

and  what  "won't  do,"  and  what  they  "can't 
very  well  help,"  and  so  on.  And  so  when  the 
question,  "  How  much  owest  thou  unto  my  Lord  ? ' ' 
is  applied  to  this  particularly  pleasant  gift,  it  is 
not  met  with  the  loyal,  free-hearted,  happy  re- 
sponse, ' '  All !  yes,  all  for  Jesus  ! ' ' 

I  know  there  are  special  temptations  around 
this  matter.  Vain  and  selfish  ones — whispering 
how  much  better  a  certain  song  suits  your  voice, 
and  how  much  more  likely  to  be  admired.  Faith- 
less ones — suggesting  doubts  whether  you  can 
make  the  holy  song  "go."  Specious  ones — ask- 
ing whether  you  ought  not  to  please  your  neigh- 
bors, and  hushing  up  the  rest  of  the  precept,  "  Let 
every  one  of  you  please  his  neighbor  for  his  good 
to  edification  "  (Rom.  xv.  2).  Cowardly  ones — 
telling  you  that  it  is  just  a  little  too  much  to  ex- 
pect of  you,  and  that  you  are  not  called  upon  to 
wave  your  banner  in  people's  very  faces,  and  pro- 
voke surprise  and  remark,  as  this  might  do.  And 
so  the  banner  is  kept  furled,  the  witness  for  Jesus 
is  not  borne,  and  you  sing  for  others  and  not  for 
your  Kingo 

The  words  had  passed  your  lips,  "  Take  my 
voice  !  "  And  yet  you  will  not  let  Him  have  it; 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  69 

you  will  not  let  Him  have  that  which  cosk  you 
something,  just  because  it  costs  you  something ! 
And  yet  He  lent  you  that  pleasant  voice,  that 
you  might  use  it  for  Him.  And  yet  He,  in  the 
sureness  of  His  perpetual  presence,  was  beside 
you  all  the  while,  and  heard  every  note  as  you 
sang  the  songs  which  were,  as  your  inmost  heart 
knew,  not  for  Him. 

Where  is  your  faith  ?  Where  is  the  consecra- 
tion you  have  talked  about  ?  The  voice  has  not 
been  kept  for  Him,  because  it  has  not  been  truly 
and  unreservedly  given  to  Him.  Will  you  not 
now  say,  "Take  my  voice,  for  I  had  not  given 
it  to  Thee ;  keep  my  voice,  for  I  can  not  keep  it 
for  Thee?" 

And  He  will  keep  it !  You  can  not  tell,  till 
you  have  tried,  how  surely  all  the  temptations  flee 
when  it  is  no  longer  your  battle,  but  the  Lord's; 
nor  how  completely  and  curiously  all  the  difficul- 
ties vanish,  when  you  simply  and  trustfully  go 
forward  in  the  path  of  full  consecration  in  this 
matter.  You  will  find  that  the  keeping  is  most 
wonderfully  real.  Do  not  expect  to  lay  down 
rules  and  provide  for  every  sort  of  contingency. 
If  you  could,  you  would  miss  the  sweetness  of  the 


70  KEPT  FOR  THE;  MASTER'S  USE. 

continual  guidance  in  the  "  kept "  course.  Have 
only  one  rule  about  it — just  to  look  up  to  your  Mas- 
ter about  every  single  song  you  are  asked  or  feel 
inclined  to  sing.  If  you  are  "  willing  and  obe- 
dient," you  will  always  meet  His  guiding  eye.  He 
will  always  keep  the  voice  that  is  wholly  at  His 
disposal.  Soon  you  will  have  such  experience  of 
His  immediate  guidance  that  you  will  be  utterly 
satisfied  with  it,  and  only  sorrowfully  wonder  you 
did  not  sooner  thus  simply  lean  on  it. 

I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  one  who  has 
laid  her  special  gift  at  the  feet  of  the  Giver,  yield- 
ing her  voice  to  Him  with  hearty  desire  that  it 
might  be  kept  for  His  use.  She  writes:  "I  had 
two  lessons  on  singing  while  in  Germany  from 
our  Master.  One  was  very  sweet.  A  young  girl 
wrote  to  me,  that  when  she  had  heard  me  sing, 
'O  come,  every  one  that  thirsteth,'  she  went  away 
and  prayed  that  she  might  come,  and  she  did 
come,  too.  Is  not  He  good  ?  The  other  was :  I 
had  been  tempted  to  join  the  Gesang  Verein  in 

N .     I  prayed  to  be  shown  whether  I  was 

right  in  so  doing  or  not.  I  did  not  see  my  way 
clear,  so  I  went.  The  singing  was  all  secular. 
The  very  first  night  I  went  I  caught  a  bad  cold 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  11 

on  my  chest,  which  prevented  me  from  singing 
again  at  all  till  Christmas.  Those  were  better 
than  any  lessons  from  a  singing-master  !  ' '  Does 
not  this  illustrate  both  the  keeping  from  and  the 
keeping  for?  In  the  latter  case  I  believe  she 
honestly  wished  to  know  her  Lord's  will — whether 
the  training  and  practice  were  needed  for  His 
better  service  with  her  music,  and  that,  therefore, 
she  might  take  them  for  His  sake ;  or  whether  the 
concomitants  and  influence  would  be  such  as  to 
hinder  the  close  communion  with  Him  which  she 
had  found  so  precious,  and  that,  therefore,  she 
was  to  trust  Him  to  give  her  "much  more  than 
this."  And  so,  at  once,  He  showed  her  unmis- 
takably what  He  would  have  her  not  do,  and  gave 
her  the  sweet  consciousness  that  He  Himself  was 
teaching  her  and  taking  her  at  her  word.  I  know 
what  her  passionate  love  for  music  is,  and  how 
very  real  and  great  the  compensation  from  Him 
must  have  been  which  could  thus  make  her  right 
down  glad  about  what  would  otherwise  have  been 
an  immense  disappointment.  And  then,  as  to 
the  former  of  these  two  "  lessons,"  the  song  she 
names  was  one  substituted  when  she  said,  "  Take 
my  voice,' '  for  some  which  were  far  more  effective 


72  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

for  her  voice.  But  having  freely  chosen  to  sing 
what  might  glorify  the  Master  rather  than  the 
singer,  see  how,  almost  immediately,  He  gave  her 
a  reward  infinitely  outweighing  all  the  drawing- 
room  compliments  or  concert-room  applause  ! 
That  one  consecrated  song  found  echoes  in 
heaven,  bringing,  by  its  blessed  result,  joy  to  the 
angels  and  glory  to  God.  And  the  memory  of 
that  song  is  immortal ;  it  will  live  through  ages  to 
come,  never  lost,  never  dying  away,  when  the 
vocal  triumphs  of  the  world's  greatest  singers  are 
past  and  forgotten  forever.  Now  you  who  have 
been  taking  a  half-and-half  course,  do  you  get 
such  rewards  as  this  ?  You  may  well  envy  them ! 
But  why  not  take  the  same  decided  course,  and 
share  the  same  blessed  keeping  and  its  fulness  of 
hidden  reward  ? 

If  you  only  knew,  dear  hesitating  friends,  what 
strength  and  gladness  the  Master  gives  when 
we  loyally  "sing  forth  the  honor  of  His  Name," 
you  would  not  forego  it !  Oh,  if  you  only  knew 
the  difficulties  it  saves  !  For  when  you  sing  "al- 
ways and  only  for  your  King,"  you  will  not  get 
much  entangled  by  the  King's  enemies.  Singing 
an  out-and-out  sacred  song  often  clears  one's  path 


OUR  VOICES   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  73 

at  a  stroke  as  to  many  other  things.  If  you  only 
knew  the  rewards  He  gives — very  often  then  and 
there;  the  recognition  that  you  are  one  of  the 
King's  friends  by  some  lonely  and  timid  one;  the 
openings  which  you  quite  naturally  gain  of  speak- 
ing a  word  for  Jesus  to  hearts  which,  without  the 
song,  would  never  have  given  you  the  chance  of 
the  word !  If  you  only  knew  the  joy  of  believing 
that  His  sure  promise,  "  My  Word  shall  not  return 
unto  me  void,"  will  be  fulfilled  as  you  wVs^that 
word  for  Him !  If  you  only  tasted  the  solemn 
happiness  of  knowing  that  you  have  indeed  a 
royal  audience,  that  the  King  Himself  is  listening 
as  you  sing  !  If  you  only  knew — and  why  should 
you  not  know  ?  Shall  not  the  time  past  of  your 
life  suffice  you  for  the  miserable,  double-hearted 
calculating  service?  Let  Him  have  the  whole 
use  of  your  voice  at  any  cost,  and  see  if  He  does 
not  put  many  a  totally  unexpected  new  song  into 
your  mouth ! 

I  am  not  writing  all  this  to  great  and  finished 
singers,  but  to  everybody  who  can  sing  at  all. 
Those  who  think  they  have  only  a  very  small 
talent,  are  often  most  tempted  not  to  trade  with 
it  for  their  Lord.  Whether  you  have  much  or 


74  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

little  natural  voice,  there  is  reason  for  its  cul- 
tivation and  room  for  its  use.  Place  it  at  your 
Lord's  disposal,  and  He  will  show  you  how  to 
make  the  most  of  it  for  Him ;  for  not  seldom 
His  multiplying  power  is  brought  to  bear  on  a 
consecrated  voice.  A  puzzled  singing-master, 
very  famous  in  his  profession,  said  to  one  who 
tried  to  sing  for  Jesus,  "  Well,  you  have  not  much 
voice ;  but,  mark  my  words,  you  will  always  beat 
anybody  with  four  times  your  voice  !  ' '  He  was 
right,  though  he  did  not  in  the  least  know  why. 

A  great  many  so-called  "sacred  songs  "  are  so 
plaintive  and  pathetic,  that  they  help  to  give  a 
gloomy  idea  of  religion.  Now  don't  sing  these; 
come  out  boldly,  and  sing  definitely  and  unmis- 
takably for  your  King,  and  of  your  King,  and  to 
your  King.  You  will  soon  find,  and  even  out- 
siders will  have  to  own,  that  it  is  a  good  thing 
thus  to  show  forth  His  loving  kindness  and  His 
faithfulness  (see  Ps.  xcii.  1-3). 

Here  I  am  usually  met  by  the  query,  "But 
what  would  you  advise  me  to  sing  ?  "  I  can  only 
say  that  I  never  got  any  practical  help  from  ask- 
ing any  one  but  the  Master  Himself,  and  so  I 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  75 

would  advist  you  to  do  the  same  !  He  knows  ex- 
actly what  will  best  suit  your  voice  and  enable 
you  to  sing  best  for  Him ;  for  He  made  it,  and 
gave  it  just  the  pitch  and  tone  He  pleased ;  so, 
of  course,  He  is  the  best  counsellor  about  it. 
Refer  your  question  in  simplest  faith  to  Him,  and 
I  am  perfectly  sure  you  will  find  it  answered.  He 
will  direct  you,  and  in  some  way  or  other  the 
Lord  will  provide  the  right  songs  for  you  to  sing. 
That  is  the  very  best  advice  I  can  possibly  give 
you  on  the  subject,  and  you  will  prove  it  to  be  so 
if  you  will  act  upon  it. 

Only  one  thing  I  would  add  :  I  believe  there 
is  nothing  like  singing  His  own  words.  The 
preacher  claims  the  promise,  "  My  word  shall 
not  return  unto  Me  void,"  and  why  should  not 
the  singer  equally  claim  it  ?  Why  should  we  use 
His  own  inspired  words,  with  faith  in  their 
power,  when  speaking  or  writing,  and  content 
ourselves  with  human  words  put  into  rhyme  (and 
sometimes  very  feeble  rhyme)  for  our  singing  ? 

What  a  vista  of  happy  work  opens  out  here ! 
What  is  there  to  prevent  our  using  this  mightiest 
of  all  agencies  committed  to  human  agents,  the 
Word,  which  is  quick  and  powerful,  and  sharper 


76  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

than  a  two-edged  sword,  whenever  we  are  asked  to 
sing  ?  By  this  means  even  a  young  girl  may  be 
privileged  to  make  that  Word  sound  in  the  ears 
of  many  who  would  not  listen  to  it  otherwise, 
By  this  the  incorruptible  seed  may  be  sown  in 
otherwise  unreachable  ground. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  it  is  actually  the 
easiest  way  thus  to  take  the  very  highest  ground. 
You  will  find  that  singing  Bible  words  does  not 
excite  the  prejudice  or  contempt  that  any  other 
words,  sufficiently  decided  to  be  worth  singing, 
are  almost  sure  to  do.  For  very  decency's  sake 
a  Bible  song  will  be  listened  to  respectfully;  and 
for  very  shame's  sake  no  adverse  whisper  will  be 
ventured  against  the  words  in  ordinary  English 
homes.  The  singer  is  placed  on  a  vantage 
ground,  certain  that  at  least  the  words  of  the 
song  will  be  outwardly  respected,  and  the  pos- 
sible ground  of  unfriendly  criticism  thus  narrowed 
to  begin  with. 

But  there  is  much  more  than  this.  One  feels 
the  power  of  His  words  for  oneself  as  one  sings. 
One  loves  them  and  rejoices  in  them,  and  what 
can  be  greater  help  to  any  singer  than  that? 
And  one  knows  they  are  true,  and  that  they  cart 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  77 

not  really  return  void,  and  what  can  give  greater 
confidence  than  that  ?  God  may  bless  the  sing- 
ing of  any  words,  but  He  must  bless  the  singing 
of  His  own  Word,  if  that  promise  means  what  it 
says ! 

The  only  real  difficulty  in  the  matter  is,,  that 
Scripture  songs,  as  a  rule,  require  a  little  more 
practice  than  others.  Then  practice  them  a  little 
more !  You  think  nothing  of  the  trouble  of 
learning,  for  instance,  a  sonata,  which  takes  you 
many  a  good  hour's  practice  before  you  can  ren- 
der it  perfectly  and  expressively.  But  you  shrink 
from  a  song,  the  accompaniment  of  which  you 
cannot  read  off  without  any  trouble  at  all.  And 
you  never  think  of  such  a  thing  as  taking  one-tenth 
the  pains  to  learn  that  accompaniment  that  you 
took  to  learn  that  sonata  !  Very  likely,  too,  you 
take  the  additional  pains  to  learn  the  sonata  off 
by  heart,  so  that  you  can  play  it  more  effectively. 
But  you  do  not  take  pains  to  learn  your  accompani- 
ment by  heart,  so  that  you  may  throw  all  your  power 
into  the  expression  of  the  words,  undistracted  by 
reading  the  notes  and  turning  over  the  leaves. 
It  is  far  more  useful  to  have  half  a  dozen  Scrip- 
ture songs  thoroughly  learnt  and  made  your  own 


78  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

than  to  have  in  your  portfolios  several  dozen  easy 
settings  of  sacred  poetry  which  you  get  through 
with  your  eyes  fixed  on  the  notes.  And  every 
one  thus  thoroughly  mastered  makes  it  easier  to 
master  others. 

You  will  say  that  all  this  refers  only  to  draw- 
ing-room singing.  So  it  does,  primarily,  but 
then  it  is  the  drawing-room  singing  which  has 
been  so  little  for  Jesus  and  so  much  for  self  and 
society ;  and  so  much  less  has  been  said  about  it, 
and  so  much  less  done.  There  would  not  be  half 
the  complaints  of  the  difficulty  of  witnessing  for 
Christ  in  even  professedly  Christian  homes  and 
circles,  if  every  converted  singer  were  also  a  con- 
secrated one.  For  nothing  raises  or  lowers  the 
tone  of  a  whole  evening  so  much  as  the  character 
of  the  music.  There  are  few  things  which  show 
more  clearly  that,  as  a  rule,  a  very  definite  step  in 
advance  is  needed  beyond  being  a  believer  or 
even  a  worker  for  Christ.  Over  how  many  grand 
or  cottage  pianos  could  the  Irish  Society's  motto, 
"For  Jesus'  sake  only"  be  hung,  without  being 
either  a  frequent  reproach,  or  altogether  inappro- 
priate ? 

But  what  is  learnt  will,  naturally,  be  sung.   And 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  79 

oh  !  how  many  Christian  parents  give  their  daugh- 
ters the  advantage  of  singing '  lessons  without 
troubling  themselves  in  the  least  about  what  songs 
are  learnt,  provided  they  are  not  exceptionally 
foolish !  Still  more  pressingly  I  would  say,  how 
many  Christian  principals,  to  whom  young  lives 
are  entrusted  at  the  most  important  time  of  all 
for  training,  do  not  give  themselves  the  least  con- 
cern about  this  matter.  As  I  write,  I  turn  aside 
to  refer  to  a  list  of  songs  learnt  last  term  by  a 
fresh  young  voice  which  would  willingly  be  trained 
for  higher  work.  There  is  just  one  "  sacred  " 
song  in  the  whole  long  list,  and  even  that  hardly 
such  a  one  as  the  writer  of  the  letter  above  quoted 
would  care  to  sing  in  her  fervent -spirited  service 
of  Christ.  All  the  rest  are  harmless  and  pleasing, 
but  only  suggestive  of  the  things  of  earth,  the 
things  of  the  world  that  is  passing  away ;  not 
one  that  might  lead  upward  and  onward,  not  one 
that  might  touch  a  careless  heart  to  seek  first  the 
kingdom  of  God,  not  one  that  might  show  forth 
the  glory  and  praise  of  our  King,  not  one  that 
tells  of  His  grace  and  love,  not  one  that  carries 
His  comfort  to  His  weary  ones  or  His  joy  to  His 
loving  ones.  She  is  left  to  find  and  learn  such 


So  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

songs  as  best  she  may ;  those  which  she  will  sing 
with  all  the  ease  and  force  gained  by  good  teach- 
ing of  them  are  no  help  at  all,  but  rather  hin- 
drance in  anything  like  wish  or  attempt  to  "  sing 
for  Jesus. ' ' 

There  is  not  the  excuse  that  the  songs  of  God's 
kingdom,  songs  which  waft  his  own  words  to  the 
souls  around,  would  not  have  answered  the  teach- 
er's purpose  as  well.  God  has  taken  care  of  that. 
He  has  not  left  Himself  without  witness  in  this 
direction.  He  has  given  the  most  perfect  melo- 
dies and  the  richest  harmonies  to  be  linked  with 
His  own  words,  and  no  singer  can  be  trained  be- 
yond His  wonderful  provision  in  this  way.  I 
pray  that  even  these  poor  words  of  mine  may 
reach  the  consciences  of  some  of  those  who  have 
this  responsibility,  and  lead  them  to  be  no  longer 
unfaithful  in  this  important  matter,  no  longer  giv- 
ing this  strangely  divided  service — training,  as 
they  profess  to  desire,  the  souls  for  God,  and  yet 
allowing  the  voices  to  be  trained  only  for  the 
world. 

But  we  must  not  run  away  with  the  idea  that 
singing  sacred  songs  and  singing  for  Jesus  are 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  8 1 

convertible  terms.  I  know  by  sorrowful  personal 
experience  that  it  is  very  possible  to  sing  a  sacred 
song  and  not  sing  it  for  Jesus.  It  is  easier  to  have 
one's  portfolio  all  right  than  one's  heart,  and  the 
repertory  is  more  easily  arranged  than  the  motives. 
When  we  have  taken  our  side,  and  the  difficulties 
of  indecision  are  consequently  swept  away, we  have 
a  new  set  of  more  subtle  temptations  to  encounter. 
And  although  the  Master  will  keep,  the  servant 
must  watch  and  pray;  and  it  is  through  the  watch- 
ing and  the  praying  that  the  keeping  will  be  effec- 
tual. We  have,  however,  rather  less  excuse  here 
than  even  elsewhere.  For  we  never  have  to  sing 
so  very  suddenly  that  we  need  be  taken  unawares. 
We  have  to  think  what  to  sing,  and  perhaps  find 
the  music,  and  the  prelude  has  to  be  played,  and 
all  this  gives  quite  enough  time  for  us  to  recollect 
whose  we  are  and  whom  we  serve,  and  to  arouse 
to  the  watch.  Quite  enough,  too,  for  quick, 
trustful  prayer  that  our  singing  may  be  kept  free 
from  that  wretched  self-seeking  or  even  self-con- 
sciousness, and  kept  entirely  for  Jesus.  Our  best 
and  happiest  singing  will  flow  when  there  is  a 
sweet,  silent  undercurrent  of  prayerful  or  praise- 
ful  communion  with  our  Master  all  through  the 
6 


82  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

song.  As  for  nervousness,  I  am  quite  sure  this  is 
the  best  antidote  to  that. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  quite  possible  to  sing 
for  Jesus  without  singing  a  sacred  song.  Do  not 
take  an  ell  for  the  inch;  this  seems  to  give  and 
run  off  with  the  idea  that  it  does  not  matter  after 
all  what  you  sing,  so  that  you  sing  in  a  good 
frame  of  mind  !  No  such  thing  !  And  the  ad- 
mission needs  very  careful  guarding,  and  must  not 
be  wrested  into  an  excuse  for  looking  back  to  the 
world's  songs.  But  cases  may  and  do  arise  in 
which  it  may  be  right  to  gratify  a  weary  father, 
or  win  a  wayward  brother,  by  trying  to  please 
them  with  music  to  which  they  will  listen  when 
they  would  not  listen  to  the  songs  you  would 
rather  sing.  There  are  cases  in  which  this  may 
be  done  most  truly  for  the  Lord's  sake,  and 
clearly  under  His  guidance. 

Sometimes  cases  arise  in  which  we  can  only 
say,  "  Neither  know  we  what  to  do,  but  our  eyes 
are  upon  Thee."  And  when  we  honestly  say 
that,  depend  upon  it  we  shall  find  the  promise 
true,  "I  will  guide  thee  with  Mine  eye."  For 
God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer  you  to  be 
tempted  above  that  ye  are  able,  but  will,  with  the 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  83 

temptation,  also  make  a  way  (Gr.  the  way)  to 
escape,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it. 

I  do  not  know  why  it  should  be  so,  but  it  cer- 
tainly is  a  much  rarer  thing  to  find  a  young  gen- 
tleman singing  for  Jesus  than  a  young  lady — a 
very  rare  thing  to  find  one  with  a  cultivated  voice 
consecrating  it  to  the  Master's  use.  I  have  met 
some  who  were  not  ashamed  to  speak  for  Him,  to 
whom  it  never  seemed  even  to  occur  to  sing  for 
Him.  They  would  go  and  teach  a  Bible  class 
one  day,  and  the  next  they  would  be  practicing 
or  performing  just  the  same  songs  as  those  who 
care  nothing  for  Christ  and  His  blood-bought 
salvation.  They  had  left  some  things  behind, 
but  they  had  not  left  any  of  their  old  songs  be- 
hind. They  do  not  seem  to  think  that  being 
made  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus  had  anything 
to  do  with  this  department  of  their  lives.  Nobody 
could  gather  whether  they  were  on  the  Lord's 
side  or  not,  as  they  stood  and  sang  their  neutral 
songs.  The  banner  that  was  displayed  in  the 
class-room  was  furled  in  the  drawing-room.  Now, 
my  friends,  you  who  have  or  may  have  far  greater 
opportunities  of  displaying  that  banner  than  we 
womenkind,  why  should  you  be  less  brave  and 


84  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

loyal  than  your  sisters  ?  We  are  weak  and  you 
are  strong  naturally,  but  recollect  that  want  of 
decision  always  involves  want  of  power,  and  com- 
promising Christians  are  always  weak  Christians. 
You  will  never  be  mighty  to  the  pulling  down  of 
strongholds  while  you  have  one  foot  in  the  ene- 
my's camp,  or  on  the  supposed  neutral  ground,  if 
such  can  exist  (which  I  doubt),  between  the 
camps.  You  will  never  be  a  terror  to  the  devil 
till  you  have  enlisted  every  gift  and  faculty  on  the 
Lord's  side.  Here  is  a  thing  in  which  you  may 
practically  carry  out  the  splendid  motto,  "All  for 
Jesus/'  You  cannot  be  all  for  Him  as  long  as 
your  voice  is  not  for  Him.  Which  shall  it  be? 
All  for  Him,  we  partly  for  Him  ?  Answer  that  to 
Him  whom  you  call  Master  and  Lord. 

When  once  this  drawing-room  question  is  set- 
tled, there  is  not  much  need  to  expatiate  about 
other  forms  of  singing  for  Jesus.  As  we  have  op- 
portunity we  shall  be  willing  to  do  good  with  our 
pleasant  gift  in  any  way  or  place,  and  it  is  won- 
derful what  nice  opportunities  He  makes  for  us. 
Whether  to  one  little  sick  child,  or  to  a  thousand 
listeners,  according  to  the  powers  and  openings 
granted,  we  shall  take  our  happy  position  among 


OUR  VOICES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  85 

those  who  minister  with  singing  (i  Chron.  vi.  32). 
And  in  so  far  as  we  really  do  this  unto  the  Lord, 
I  am  quite  sure  He  gives  the  hundredfold  now  in 
this  present  time  more  than  all  the  showy  songs 
or  self-gratifying  performances  we  may  have  left 
for  His  sake.  As  we  steadily  tread  this  part  of 
the  path  of  consecration,  we  shall  find  the  diffi- 
culties left  behind,  and  the  real  pleasantness  of 
the  way  reached,  and  it  will  be  a  delight  to  say 
to  oneself,  "  I  cannot  sing  the  old  songs;  "  and 
though  you  have  thought  it  quite  enough  to  say, 
"With  my  song  will  I  please  my  friends,"  espe- 
cially if  they  happened  to  be  pleased  with  a  mildly 
sacred  song  or  two,  you  will  strike  a  higher  and 
happier,  a  richer  and  purer  note,  and  say  with 
David,  "With  my  song  will  I  praise  Him." 
David  said  also,  "My  lips  shall  greatly  rejoice 
when  I  sing  unto  Thee,  and  my  soul,  which  Thou 
hast  redeemed. "  And  you  will  find  that  this 
comes  true. 

Singing  for  Jesus,  our  Saviour  and  King ; 

Singing  for  Jesus,  the  Lord  whom  we  love ! 
All  adoration  we  joyously  bring, 

Longing  to  praise  as  they  praise  Him  above. 


86  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

Singing  for  Jesus,  our  Master  and  Friend, 

Telling  His  love  and  His  marvellous  grace, — ~ 

Love  from  eternity,  love  to  the  end, 

Love  for  the  loveless,  the  sinful,  and  base. 

Singing  for  Jesus,  and  trying  to  win 

Many  to  love  Him,  and  join  in  the  song ;, 

Calling  the  weary  and  wandering  in, 
Rolling  the  chorus  of  gladness  along. 

Singing  for  Jesus,  our  Life  and  our  Light ; 

Singing  for  Him  as  we  press  to  the  mark  j 
Singing  for  Him  when  the  morning  is  bright; 

Singing,  still  singing,  for  Him  in  the  dark ! 

Singing  for  Jesus,  our  Shepherd  and  Guide ; 

Singing  for  gladness  of  heart  that  He  gives ; 
Singing  for  wonder  and  praise  that  He  died ; 

Singing  for  blessing  and  joy  that  He  lives ! 

Singing  for  Jesus,  oh,  singing  with  joy ; 

Thus  will  we  praise  Him,  and  tell  out  His  loves 
Till  He  shall  call  us  to  brighter  employ, 

Singing  for  Jesus  forever  above. 


OUR  WPS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  87 


CHAPTER  VI. 

OUR   LIPS   KEPT   FOR  JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  lips,  that  they  may  be 
Filled  with  messages  from  Thee." 

THE  days  are  past  forever  when  we  said,  "  Our 
lips  are  our  own."  Now  we  know  that 
they  are  not  our  own. 

And  yet  how  many  of  my  readers  often  have  the 
miserable  consciousness  that  they  have  "  spoken 
unadvisedly  with  their  lips  !  ' '  How  many  pray, 
"  Keep  the  door  of  my  lips/'  when  the  very  last 
thing  they  think  of  expecting  is  that  they  will  be 
kept !  They  deliberately  make  up  their  minds 
that  hasty  words,  or  foolish  words,  or  exaggerated 
words,  according  to  their  respective  temptations, 
must  and  will  slip  out  of  that  door,  and  that  it 
can't  be  helped.  The  extent  of  the  real  meaning 
of  their  prayer  was  merely  that  not  quite  so  many 
might  slip  out.  As  their  faith  went  no  farther, 
the  answer  went  no  farther,  and  so  the  door  was 
not  kept. 


88  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

Do  let  us  look  the  matter  straight  in  the  face. 
Either  we  have  committed  our  lips  to  our  Lord, 
or  we  have  not.  This  question  must  be  settled 
first.  If  not,  oh,  do  not  let  another  hour  pass  ! 
Take  them  to  Jesus,  and  ask  Him  to  take  them. 

But  when  you  have  committed  them  to  Him, 
it  comes  to  this, — is  He  able  or  is  He  not  able  to 
keep  that  which  you  have  committed  to  Him  ?  If 
He  is  not  able,  of  course  you  may  as  well  give  up 
at  once,  for  your  own  experience  has  abundantly 
proved  that  you  are  not  able,  so  there  is  no  help 
for  you.  But  if  He  is  able — nay,  thank  God 
there  is  no  "if"  on  this  side! — say,  rather,  as 
He  is  able,  where  was  this  inevitable  necessity  of 
perpetual  failure  ?  You  have  been  fancying  your- 
self virtually  doomed  and  fated  to  it,  and  there- 
fore you  have  gone  on  in  it,  while  all  the  time 
His  arm  was  not  shortened  that  it  could  not  save, 
but  you  have  been  limiting  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel.  Honestly,  now,  have  you  trusted  Him  to 
keep  your  lips  this  day  ?  Trust  necessarily  implies 
expectation  that  what  we  have  entrusted  will  be 
kept.  If  you  have  not  expected  Him  to  keep, 
you  have  not  trusted.  You  may  have  tried  and 
tried  very  hard,  but  you  have  not  trusted,  and 


OUR  WPS   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  89 

therefore  you  have  not  been  kept,  and  your  lips 
have  been  the  snare  of  your  soul  (Prov.  xviii.  7). 

Once  I  heard  a  beautiful  prayer  which  I  can 
never  forget ;  it  was  this :  "  Lord,  take  my  lips, 
and  speak  through  them ;  take  my  mind,  and  think 
through  it;  take  my  heart,  and  set  it  on  fire." 
And  this  is  the  way  the  Master  keeps  the  lips  of 
His  servants,  by  so  filling  their  hearts  with  His 
love  that  the  outflow  can  not  be  unloving,  by  so 
filling  their  thoughts  that  the  utterance  can  not 
be  un-Christ-like.  There  must  be  filling  before 
there  can  be  pouring  out ;  and  if  there  is  filling, 
there  must  be  pouring  out,  for  He  hath  said,  "Out 
of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh.' ' 

But  I  think  we  should  look  for  something  more 
direct  and  definite  than  this.  We  are  not  all 
called  to  be  the  King's  ambassadors,  but  all  who 
have  heard  the  messages  of  salvation  for  them- 
selves are  called  to  be  "the  Lord's  messengers," 
and  day  by  day,  as  He  gives  us  opportunity,  we 
are  to  deliver  "  the  Lord's  message  unto  the  peo- 
ple." That  message,  as  committed  to  Haggai, 
was,  "  I  am  with  you,  saith  the  Lord."  Is  there 
not  work  enough  for  any  lifetime  in  unfolding 
and  distributing  that  one  message  to  His  own  peo- 


90  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

pie?  Then,  for  those  who  are  still  far  off,  we 
have  that  equally  full  message  from  our  Lord 
to  give  out,  which  He  has  condensed  for  us  into 
the  one  word,  "  Come  !  " 

It  is  a  specially  sweet  part  of  His  dealings  with 
His  messengers  that  He  always  gives  us  the  mes- 
sage for  ourselves  first.  It  is  what  He  has  first 
told  us  in  darkness — that  is,  in  the  secrecy  of  our 
own  rooms,  or  at  least  of  our  own  hearts — that 
He  bids  us  speak  in  light.  And  so  the  more  we 
sit  at  His  feet  and  watch  to  see  what  He  has  to 
say  to  ourselves,  the  more  we  shall  have  to  tell  to 
others.  He  does  not  send  us  out  with  sealed  dis- 
patches, which  we  know  nothing  about,  and  with 
which  we  have  no  concern. 

There  seems  a  seven-fold  sequence  in  His  filling 
the  lips  of  His  messengers.  First,  they  must  be 
purified.  The  live  coal  from  off  the  altar  must 
be  laid  upon  them,  and  He  must  say,  "  Lo,  this 
hath  touched  thy  lips,  and  thine  iniquity  is  taken 
away,  and  thy  sin  is  purged."  Then  He  will 
create  the  fruit  of  them,  and  this  seems  to  be  the 
great  message  of  peace,  "  Peace  to  him  that  is  far 
off  and  to  him  that  is  near,  saith  the  Lord ;  and 
I  will  heal  him"  (see  Isa.  Ivii.ip).  Then  comes 


OUR  UPS   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  9! 

the  prayer,  "  O  Lord,  open  Thou  my  lips,"  and 
its  sure  fulfillment.  For  then  come  in  the  prom- 
ises, ' '  Behold,  I  have  put  My  words  in  thy  mouth," 
and,  "They  shall  withal  be  fitted  in  thy  lips." 
Then,  of  course,  "the  lips  of  the  righteous  feed 
many,"  for  the  food  is  the  Lord's  own  giving. 
Everything  leads  up  to  praise,  and  so  we  come 
next  to  "  My  mouth  shall  praise  Thee  with  joyful 
lips,  when  I  remember  Thee.' '  And  lest  we  should 
fancy  that  "when"  rather  implies  that  it  is  not, 
or  can  not  be,  exactly  always,  we  find  that  the 
mediation  of  Jesus  throws  this  added  light  upon 
it,  "\>y  Him,  therefore,  let  us  offer  the  sacrifice 
of  praise  to  God  continually ',  that  is,  the  fruit  of 
our  lips,  giving  thanks  to  "  (margin,  confessing) 
"His  name." 

Does  it  seem  a  coming  down  from  the  mount 
to  glance  at  one  of  our  King's  commandments, 
which  is  specially  needful  and  applicable  to  this 
matter  of  our  lips  being  kept  for  Him  ?  "  Watch 
and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temptation." 
None  of  His  commands  clash  with  or  supersede 
one  another.  Trusting  does  not  supersede  watch- 
ing ;  it  does  but  complete  and  effectuate  it.  Un- 
watchful  trust  is  a  delusion,  an  untrustful  watch- 


92  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

ing  is  in  vain.  Therefore,  let  us  not  either  will- 
fully or  carelessly  enter  into  temptation,  whether 
of  place,  or  person,  or  topic,  which  has  any 
tendency  to  endanger  the  keeping  of  our  lips  for 
Jesus.  Let  us  pray  that  grace  may  be  more  and 
more  poured  into  our  lips  as  it  was  into  His,  so 
that  our  speech  may  be  alway  with  grace.  May 
they  be  pure,  and  sweet,  and  lovely,  even  as  "  His 
lips,  like  lilies,  dropping  sweet-smelling  myrrh." 

We  can  hardly  consider  the  keeping  of  our  lips 
without  recollecting  that  upon  them,  more  than 
all  else,  (though  not  exclusively  of  all  else),  de- 
pends that  greatest  of  our  responsibilities,  our 
influence.  We  have  no  choice  in  the  matter ;  we 
can  not  evade  or  avoid  it ;  and  there  is  no  more 
possibility  of  our  limiting  it,  or  even  tracing  its 
limits,  than  there  is  of  setting  a  bound  to  the 
far- vibrating  sound-waves,  or  watching  their  flow 
through  the  invisible  air.  Not  one  sentence  that 
passes  these  lips  of  ours  but  must  be  an  invisibly 
prolonged  influence,  not  dying  away  into  silence, 
but  living  away  into  the  words  and  deeds  of  others. 
The  thought  would  not  be  quite  so  oppressive  if 
we  could  know  what  we  have  done  and  shall  be 


OUR  UPS  KKPT  FOR  JESUS.  93 

continuing  to  do  by  what  we  have  said.  But  we 
never  can,  as  a  matter  of  fact.  We  may  trace  it 
a  little  way,  and  get  a  glimpse  of  some  results  for 
good  or  evil ;  but  we  never  can  see  any  more  of 
it  than  we  can  see  of  a  shooting  star  flashing 
through  the  night  with  a  momentary  revelation 
of  one  step  of  its  strange  path.  Even  if  the  next 
instant  plunges  it  into  apparent  annihilation  as  it 
strikes  the  atmosphere  of  the  earth,  we  know  that  it 
is  not  really  so,  but  that  its  mysterious  material  and 
force  must  be  added  to  the  complicated  materials 
and  forces  with  which  it  has  come  in  contact,  with 
a  modifying  power  none  the  less  real  because  it  is 
beyond  our  ken.  And  this  is  not  comparing  a  great 
thing  with  a  small,  but  a  small  thing  with  a  great. 
For  what  is  material  force  compared  with  moral 
force  ?  What  are  gases,  and  vapors,  and  elements 
compared  with  souls  and  the  eternity  for  which 
they  are  preparing  ? 

We  all  know  that  there  is  influence  exerted  by 
a  person's  mere  presence,  without  the  utterance 
of  a  single  word.  We  are  conscious  of  this  every 
day.  People  seem  to  carry  an  atmosphere  with 
them,  which  must  be  breathed  by  those  whom 
they  approach.  Some  carry  an  atmosphere  in 


94  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

which  all  unkind  thoughts  shrivel  up  and  cannot 
grow  into  expression.  Others  carry  one  in  which 
" thoughts  of  Christ  and  things  divine"  never 
seem  able  to  flourish.  Have  you  not  felt  how  a 
happy  conversation  about  the  things  we  love  best 
is  checked,  or  even  strangled,  by  the  entrance  of 
one  who  is  not  in  sympathy?  Outsiders  have 
not  a  chance  of  ever  really  knowing  what  de- 
lightful intercourse  we  have  one  with  another 
about  these  things,  because  their  very  presence 
chills  and  changes  it.  On  the  other  hand,  how 
another  person's  incoming  freshens  and  develops 
it,  and  warms  us  all  up,  and  seems  to  give  us, 
without  the  least  conscious  effort,  a  sort  of  lift ! 

If  even  unconscious  and  involuntary  influence 
is  such  a  power,  how  much  greater  must  it  be 
when  the  recognized  power  of  words  is  added  ! 

It  has  often  struck  me  as  a  matter  of  observa- 
tion, that  open  profession  adds  force  to  this  in- 
fluence, on  whichever  side  it  weighs ;  and  also 
that  it  has  the  effect  of  making  many  a  word  and 
act,  which  might  in  other  hands  have  been  as 
nearly  neutral  as  anything  can  be,  tell  with  by 
no  means  neutral  tendency  on  the  wrong  side. 
The  question  of  Eliphaz  comes  with  great  force 


OUR  UPS  KEPI'  FOR  JESUS.  95 

when  applied  to  one  who  desires  or  professes  to 
be  consecrated  altogether,  life  and  lips :  "  Should 
he  reason  with  unprofitable  talk  and  with  speeches 
wherewith  one  can  do  no  good  ?"  There  is  our 
standard  !  Idle  words,  which  might  have  fallen 
comparatively  harmlessly  from  one  who  had  never 
named  the  Name  of  Christ,  may  be  a  stumbling- 
block  to  inquirers,  a  sanction  to  thoughtless 
juniors,  and  a  grief  to  thoughtful  seniors,  when 
they  come  from  lips  which  are  professing  to  feed 
many.  Even  intelligent  talk  on  general  subjects 
by  such  a  one  may  be  a  chilling  disappointment 
to  some  craving  heart,  which  had  indulged  the 
hope  of  getting  help,  comfort,  or  instruction  in 
the  things  of  God  by  listening  to  the  conversa- 
tion. It  may  be  a  lost  opportunity  of  giving  and 
gaining  no  one  knows  how  much  ! 

How  well  I  recollect  this  disappointment  to 
myself,  again  and  again,  when  a  mere  child  !  In 
those  early  seeking  days  I  never  could  understand 
why,  sometimes,  a  good  man  whom  I  heard 
preach  or  speak  as  if  he  loved  Christ  very  much, 
talk  about  all  sorts  of  other  things  when  we  came 
back  from  church  or  missionary  meeting.  I  did 
so  wish  he  would  have  talked  about  the  Saviour, 


96  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

whom  I  wanted,  but  had  not  found.  It  would 
have  been  so  much  more  interesting,  even  to  the 
apparently  thoughtless  and  merry  little  girl.  How 
could  he  help  it,  I  wondered,  if  he  cared  for  that 
Pearl  of  Great  Price  as  I  was  sure  I  should  care 
for  it  if  I  could  only  find  it  !  And  oh  !  why 
didn't  they  ever  talk  to  me  about  it,  instead  of 
about  my  lessons  or  their  little  girls  at  home  ? 
They  did  not  know  how  their  conversation  was 
observed  and  compared  with  their  sermon  or 
speech,  and  how  a  hungry  little  soul  went  empty 
away  from  the  supper-table. 

The  lips  of  younger  Christians  may  cause,  in 
their  turn,  no  less  disappointment.  One  sorrow- 
ful lesson  I  can  never  forget ;  and  I  will  tell  the 
story  in  hope  that  it  may  save  others  from  causes 
of  similar  regret.  During  a  summer  visit,  just 
after  I  had  left  school,  a  class  of  girls  about  my 
own  age  came  to  me  a  few  times  for  an  hour's 
singing.  It  was  very  pleasant  indeed,  and  the 
girls  were  delighted  with  the  hymns.  They 
listened  to  all  I  had  to  say  about  time  and  expres- 
sion, and  not  with  less  attention  to  the  more 
shyly-ventured  remarks  about  the  words.  Some- 
times I  accompanied  them  afterwards  down  the 


OUR  lylPS  KEPT  FOR  JBSUS.  97 

avenue ;  and  whenever  I  met  any  of  them  I  had 
smiles  and  plenty  of  kindly  words  for  each,  which 
they  seemed  to  appreciate  immensely.  A  few 
years  afterwards  I  sat  by  the  bedside  of  one 
of  these  girls—the  most  gifted  of  them  all  with 
both  heart  and  head.  She  had  been  led  by 
a  wonderful  way,  and  through  long  and  deep 
suffering,  into  far  clearer  light  than  I  enjoyed, 
and  had  witnessed  for  Christ  in  more  ways  than 
one,  and  far  more  brightly  than  I  had  ever  done. 
She  told  me  how  sorrowfully  and  eagerly  she  was 
seeking  Jesus  at  the  time  of  those  singing-classes. 
And  I  never  knew  it,  because  I  never  asked,  and 
she  was  too  shy  to  speak  first !  But  she  told  me 
more,  and  every  word  was  a  pang  to  me, — how 
she  used  to  linger  in  the  avenue  on  those  summer 
evenings,  longing  that  I  would  speak  to  her  about 
the  Saviour;  how  she  hoped,  week  after  week,  that 
I  would  just  stretch  out  a  hand  to  help  her ;  just 
say  one  little  word  that  might  be  God's  message 
of  peace  to  her,  instead  of  the  pleasant,  general 
remarks  about  the  nice  hymns  and  tunes.  .  And  I 
never  did  !  And  she  went  on  for  months,  I 
think  for  years,  after,  without  the  light  and  glad- 
ness which  it  might  have  been  my  privilege  to 
7 


98  KEPT  FOR  THK  MASTER'S  USE. 

bring  to  her  life.  God  chose  other  means,  for 
the  souls  that  he  has  given  to  Christ  cannot  be 
lost  because  of  the  unfaithfulness  of  a  human 
instrument.  But  she  said,  and  the  words  often 
ring  in  my  ears  when  I  am  tempted  to  let  an 
opportunity  slip,  "Ah,  Miss  F.,  I  ought  to  have 
been  yours  ! f ' 

Yes,  it  is  true  enough  that  we  should  show  forth 
His  praise  not  only  with  our  lips,  but  in  our  lives ; 
but  with  very  many  Christians  the  other  side  of 
the  prayer  wants  praying — they  want  rousing  up 
even  to  wish  to  show  it  forth  not  only  in  their 
lives,  but  with  their  lips.  I  wonder  how  many, 
even  of  those  who  read  this,  really  pray,  "O 
Lord,  open  Thou  my  lips,  and  my  mouth  shall 
show  forth  Thy  praise/* 

And  when  opened,  oh,  how  much  one  does 
want  to  have  them  so  kept  for  Jesus  that  He  may 
be  free  to  make  the  most  of  them,  not  letting 
them  render  second-rate  and  indirect  service 
when  they  might  be  doing  direct  and  first-rate 
service  to  His  cause  and  kingdom !  It  is  terrible 
how  much  less  is  done  for  Him  than  might  be 
done,  in  consequence  of  the  specious  notion  that 
if  what  we  are  doing  or  saying  is  not  bad,  we  are 


OUR  UPS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  99 

doing  good  in  a  certain  way,  and  therefore  may 
be  quite  easy  about  it.  We  should  think  a  man 
rather  foolish  if  he  went  on  doing  work  which 
earned  five  shillings  a  week,  when  he  might  just 
as  well  do  work  in  the  same  establishment  and 
under  the  same  master  which  would  bring  him  in 
five  pounds  a  week.  But  we  should  pronounce 
him  shamefully  dishonest  and  dishonorable  if  he 
accepted  such  handsome  wages  as  the  five  pounds, 
and  yet  chose  to  do  work  worth  only  five  shillings, 
excusing  himself  by  saying  that  it  was  work  all 
the  same,  and  somebody  had  better  do  it.  Do 
we  not  act  something  like  this  when  we  take  the 
lower  standard,  and  spend  our  strength  in  just 
making  ourselves  agreeable  and  pleasant,  creating 
a  general  good  impression  in  favor  of  religion, 
showing  that  we  can  be  all  things  to  all  men,  and 
that  one  who  is  supposed  to  be  a  citizen  of  the 
other  world  can  be  very  well  up  in  all  that  con- 
cerns this  world  ?  This  may  be  good,  but  is  there 
nothing  better?  What  does  it  profit  if  we  do 
make  this  favorable  impression  on  an  outsider,  if 
we  go  no  farther  and  do  not  use  the  influence 
gained  to  bring  him  right  inside  the  fold,  inside 
the  only  ark  of  safety?  People  are  not  converted 


100  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

by  this  sort  of  work ;  at  any  rate  /never  met  or 
heard  of  any  one.  "He  thinks  it  better  for  his 
quiet  influence  to  tell!"  said  an  affectionately 
excusing  relative  of  one  who  had  plenty  of  special 
opportunities  of  soul- winning,  if  he  had  only  used 
his  lips  as  well  as  his  life  for  his  Master.  "And 
how  many  souls  have  been  converted  to  God  by 
his  '  quiet  influence  *  all  these  years  ?  ' '  was  my 
reply.  And  to  that  there  was  no  answer  !  For 
the  silent  shining  was  all  very  beautiful  in  theory, 
but  not  one  of  the  many  souls  placed  specially 
under  his  influence  had  been  known  to  be  brought 
out  of  darkness  into  marvellous  light.  If  they 
had,  they  must  have  been  known,  for  such  light 
can't  help  being  seen. 

When  one  has  even  a  glimmer  of  the  tremen- 
dous difference  between  having  Christ  and  being 
without  Christ ;  when  one  gets  but  one  shudder- 
ing glimpse  of  what  eternity  is,  and  of  what  it 
must  mean,  as  well  as  what  it  may  mean,  without 
Christ ;  when  one  gets  but  a  flash  of  realization  of 
the  tremendous  fact  that  all  these  neighbors  of 
ours,  rich  and  poor  alike,  will  have  to  spend  that 
eternity  either  with  Him  or  without  Him, — it  is 
hard,  very  hard  indeed,  to  understand  how  a  man 


OUR  UPS   KEPT  FOR  JKSUS.  IOI 

or  woman  can  believe  these  things  at  all,  and 
make  no  effort  for  anything  beyond  the  temporal 
elevation  of  those  around,  sometimes  not  even 
beyond  their  amusements!  ''People  must  have 
entertainment,"  they  urge.  I  do  not  find  that 
must  in  the  Bible,  but  I  do  find,  "We  must  all 
stand  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ. ' '  And 
if  you  have  any  sort  of  belief  in  that,  how  can  you 
care  to  use  those  lips  of  yours,  which  might  be  a 
fountain  of  life  to  the  dying  souls  before  you, 
merely  to  "  entertain  "  them  at  your  penny  read- 
ing or  other  entertainment?  As  you  sow,  so  you 
reap.  The  amusing  paper  is  read,  or  the  lively 
ballad  recited,  or  the  popular  song  sung,  and  you 
reap  your  harvest  of  laughter  or  applause,  and  of 
complacence  at  your  success  in  ' i  entertaining  ' ' 
the  people.  And  there  it  ends,  when  you  might 
have  sown  words  from  which  you  and  they  should 
reap  fruit  unto  life  eternal.  Is  this  worthy  work 
for  one  who  has  been  bought  with  such  a  price 
that  he  must  say, 

" Love  so  amazing,  so  divine, 
Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  all? " 

So  far  from  yielding   "all"   to  that  rightful 


102  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

demand  of  amazing  love,  he  does  not  even  yield 
the  fruit  of  his  lips  to  it,  much  less  the  lips 
themselves.  I  cannot  refrain  from  adding,  that 
even  this  lower  aim  of  "entertaining"  is  by  no 
means  so  appreciated  as  is  supposed.  As  a  cot- 
tager of  no  more  than  average  sense  and  intelli- 
gence remarked,  "It  was  all  so  trifling  at  the 
reading;  I  wish  gentlefolks  would  believe  that 
poor  people  like  something  better  than  what's 
just  to  make  them  laugh."  After  all,  nothing 
really  pays  like  direct,  straightforward,  uncom- 
promising words  about  God  and  His  works  and 
word.  Nothing  else  ever  made  a  man  say,  as  a 
poor  Irishman  did  when  he  heard  the  Good  News 
for  the  first  time,  " Thank  ye,  sir;  you've  taken 
the  hunger  off  us  to-day !  ' ' 

Jephthah  uttered  all  his  words  before  the  Lord ; 
what  about  ours?  Well,  they  are  all  uttered 
before  the  Lord  in  one  sense,  whether  we  will  or 
no ;  for  there  is  not  a  word  in  my  tongue,  but  lo, 
Thou,  O  Lord,  knowest  it  altogether !  How 
solemn  is  this  thought,  but  how  sweet  does  it 
become  when  our  words  are  uttered  consciously 
before  the  Lord  as  we  walk  in  the  light  of  his 


OUR  UPS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  IOJ 

perpetual  presence  !  Oh,  that  we  may  so  walk, 
that  we  may  so  speak,  with  kept  feet  and  kept 
lips,  trustfully  praying,  "  Let  the  meditation  of  my 
heart  and  the  words  of  my  mouth  be  always 
acceptable  in  Thy  sight,  O  Lord,  my  Strength  and 
my  Redeemer  ! ;  ' 

Bearing  in  mind  that  it  is  not  only  the  words 
which  pass  their  lightly-hinged  portal,  but  our 
literal  lips  which  are  to  be  kept  for  Jesus,  it  can 
not  be  out  of  place,  before  closing  this  chapter, 
to  suggest  that  they  open  both  ways.  What 
passes  in  should  surely  be  considered  as  well  as 
what  passes  out.  And  very  many  of  us  are  be- 
ginning to  see  that  the  command,  "  Whether  ye 
eat  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the 
glory  of  God,"  is  not  fully  obeyed  when  we 
drink,  merely  because  we  like  it,  what  is  the  very 
greatest  obstacle  to  that  glory  in  this  realm  of 
England.  What  matter  that  we  prefer  taking  it 
in  a  more  refined  form,  if  the  thing  itself  is 
daily  and  actively  and  mightily  working  misery, 
and  crime  and  death,  and  destruction  to  thousands, 
till  the  cry  thereof  seems  as  if  it  must  pierce  the 
very  heavens !  And  so  it  does — sooner,  a  great 


104  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

deal,  than  it  pierces  the  walls  of  our  comfortable 
dining-room  !  I  only  say  here,  you  who  have 
said,  "  Take  my  lips/'  stop  and  repeat  that  prayer 
next  time  you  put  that  to  your  lips  which  is  bind- 
ing men  and  women  hand  and  foot,  and  deliver- 
ing them  over,  helpless,  to  Satan  !  Let  those 
words  pass  once  more  from  your  heart  out  through 
your  lips,  and  I  do  not  think  you  will  feel  com- 
fortable in  letting  the  means  of  such  infernal 
work  pass  in  through  them. 


OUR  SII,VKR  AND  GOLD   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.      I0l| 

CHAPTER  VII. 

OUR    SILVER   AND    GOLD    KEPT   FOR  JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  silver  and  my  gold, 
Not  a  mite  would  I  withhold." 

"  HPHE  silver  and  the  gold  is  Mine,-saith  the 

1       Lord  of  Hosts. ' '  Yes,  every  coin  we  have 

is  literally  our  "Lord's  money."  Simple 

belief  of  this  fact  is  the  stepping-stone  to  full 

consecration  of  what  He  has  given  us,  whether 

much  or  little. 

"  Then  you  mean  to  say  we  are  never  to  spend 
anything  on  ourselves?"  Not  so.  Another 
fact  must  be  considered, — the  fact  that  our  Lord 
has  given  us  our  bodies  as  a  special  personal 
charge,  and  that  we  are  responsible  for  keeping 
these  bodies,  according  to  the  means  given  and 
the  work  required,  in  working  order  for  Him. 
This  is  part  of  our  "  own  work/1  A  master 
entrusts  a  workman  with  a  delicate  machine,  with 
which  his  appointed  work  is  to  be  done.  He 
also  provides  him  with  a  sum  of  money  with 


106  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

which  he  is  to  procure  all  that  may  be  necessary 
for  keeping  the  machine  in  thorough  repair.  Is 
it  not  obvious  that  it  is  the  man's  distinct  duty  to 
see  to  this  faithfully  ?  Would  he  not  be  failing  in 
duty  if  he  chose  to  spend  it  all  on  something  for 
somebody  else's  work,  or  on  a  present  for  his 
master,  fancying  that  would  please  him  better, 
while  the  machine  is  creaking  and  wearing  for 
want  of  a  little  oil,  or  working  badly  for  want  of 
a  new  band  or  screw  ?  Just  so,  we  are  to  spend 
what  is  really  needful  on  ourselves,  because  it  is 
our  charge  to  do  so  ;  but  not/^r  ourselves,  because 
we  are  not  our  own,  but  our  Master's.  He  who 
knoweth  our  frame,  knows  its  need  of  rest  and 
medicine,  food  and  clothing ;  and  the  procuring 
of  these  for  our  own  entrusted  bodies  should  be 
done  just  as  much  "  for  Jesus "  as  the  greater 
pleasure  of  procuring  them  for  some  one  else. 
Therefore  there  need  be  no  quibbling  over  the 
assertion  that  consecration  is  not  real  and  com- 
plete while  we  are  looking  upon  a  single  shilling  as 
our  own  to  do  what  we  like  with.  Also  the  princi- 
ple is  exactly  the  same,  whether  we  are  spending 
pence  or  pounds ;  it  is  our  Lord's  money  and 
must  not  be  spent  without  reference  to  Him. 


OUR  SILVER  AND  GOI<D   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.      1 07 

When  we  have  asked  Him  to  take,  and  con- 
tinually trust  Him  to  keep  our  money,  "shop- 
ping ' '  becomes  a  different  thing.  We  look  up  to 
our  Lord  for  guidance  to  lay  out  His  money  pru- 
dently and  rightly,  and  as  He  would  have  us  lay 
it  out.  The  gift  or  garment  is  selected  consciously 
under  His  eye,  and  with  conscious  reference  to 
Him  as  our  own  dear  Master,  for  whose  sake  we 
shall  give  it,  or  in  whose  service  we  shall  wear  it, 
and  whose  own  silver  or  gold  we  shall  pay  for  it, 
and  then  it  is  all  right. 

But  have  you  found  out  that  it  is  one  of  the 
secrets  of  the  Lord,  that  when  any  of  His  dear 
children  turn  aside  a  little  bit  after  having  once 
entered  the  blessed  path  of  true  and  conscious 
consecration,  He  is  sure  to  send  them  some  little 
punishment  ?  He  will  not  let  us  go  back  without 
a  sharp,  even  if  quite  secret,  reminder.  Go  and 
spend  ever  such  a  little  without  reference  to  Him 
after  you  have  once  pledged  the  silver  and  gold 
entirely  to  Him,  and  see  if  you  are  not  in  some 
way  rebuked  for  it !  Very  often  by  being  per- 
mitted to  find  that  you  have  made  a  mistake  in 
your  purchase,  or  that  in  some  way  it  does  not 
prosper.  If  you  "observe  these  things,"  you 


108  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

will  find  that  the  more  closely  we  are  walking  with 
our  Lord,  the  more  immediate  and  unmistakable 
will  be  His  gracious  rebukes  when  we  swerve  in 
any  detail  of  the  full  consecration  to  which  He 
has  called  us.  And  if  you  have  already  experi- 
enced and  recognized  this  part  of  His  personal 
dealing  with  us,  you  will  know  also  how  we  love 
and  bless  Him  for  it. 

There  is  always  a  danger  that  just  because  we 
say  "all,"  we  may  practically  fall  shorter  than  if  we 
had  only  said  "some,"  but  said  it  very  definitely. 
God  recognizes  this  and  provides  against  it  in 
many  departments.  For  instance,  though  our 
time  is  to  be  "all"  for  Him,  yet  He  solemnly 
sets  apart  the  one  day  in  seven  which  is  to  be 
specially  for  Him.  Those  who  think  they  know 
better  than  God,  and  profess  that  every  day  is  a 
Sabbath,  little  know  what  flood-gates  of  tempta- 
tion they  are  opening  by  being  so  very  wise  above 
what  is  written.  God  knows  best,  and  that  should 
be  quite  enough  for  every  loyal  heart.  So,  as  to 
money,  though  we  place  it  all  at  our  Lord's  dis- 
posal, and  rejoice  to  spend  it  all  for  Him  directly 
or  indirectly,  yet  I  am  quite  certain  it  is  a  great 


OUR  SILVER  AND  GOI^D   KEPT   FOR  JESUS.       109 

help  and  safeguard,  and,  what  is  more,  a  matter 
of  simple  obedience  to  the  spirit  of  His  com- 
mands, to  set  aside  a  definite  and  regular  propor- 
tion of  our  income  or  receipts  for  His  direct 
service.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  suppose  that  the 
law  of  giving  the  tenth  to  God  is  merely  Leviti- 
cal.  "  Search  and  look  "  for  yourselves,  and  you 
will  find  that  it  is,  like  the  Sabbath,  a  far  older 
rule,  running  all  through  the  Bible,*  and  en- 
dorsed, not  abrogated,  by  Christ  Himself.  For, 
speaking  of  tithes,  He  said,  "These  ought  ye  to 
have  done,  and  not  to  leave  the  other  undone." 
To  dedicate  the  tenth  of  whatever  we  have  is 
mere  duty;  charity  begins  beyond  it;  free-will 
offerings  and  thank-offerings  beyond  that  again. 

First-fruits,  also,  should  be  thus  specially  set 
apart.  This,  too,  we  find  running  all  through 
the  Bible.  There  is  a  tacit  appeal  to  otir  grati- 
tude in  the  suggestion  of  them, — the  very  word 
implies  bounty  received  and  bounty  in  prospect. 
Bringing  "the  first  of  the  first-fruits  into  the 

*  See  Gen.  xiv.  20  xxviii,  22 ;  Lev.  xxvii.  30,  32;  Num. 
xviii,  21 ;  Deut.  xiv.  22;  2  Chron.  xxxi.  5,  6,  12;  Neh.  x. 
37,  xii.  44,  xiii.  12;  Mai.  Hi.  8,  10;  Mat.  xxii.  23;  Luke 
xi.  42;  I  Cor.  xvi.  2;  Heb.  vii.  8. 


110  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

house  of  the  Lord  thy  God,"  was  like  "saying 
grace ' '  for  all  the  plenty  He  was  going  to  bestow 
on  the  faithful  Israelite.  Something  of  gladness, 
too,  seems  always  implied.  "The  day  of  the 
first-fruits  "  was  to  be  a  day  of  rejoicing  (compare 
Num.  xxviii.  26  with  Deut.  xvi.  10,  n).  There 
is  also  an  appeal  to  loyalty :  we  are  commanded 
to  honor  the  Lord  with  the  first-fruits  of  all  our 
increase.  And  that  is  the  way  to  prosper,  for  the 
next  word  is,  "So  shall  thy  barns  be  filled  with 
plenty. "  The  friend  who  first  called  my  atten- 
tion to  this  command,  said  that  the  setting  apart 
first-fruits — making  a  proportion  for  God's  work 
a  first  charge  upon  the  income — always  seemed  to 
bring  a  blessing  on  the  rest,  and  that  since  this 
had  been  systematically  done,  it  actually  seemed 
to  go  farther  than  when  not  thus  lessened. 

Presenting  our  first-fruits  should  be  a  peculiarly 
delightful  act,  as  they  are  themselves  the  emblem 
of  our  consecrated  relationship  to  God.  For  of 
His  own  will  begat  He  us  by  the  word  of  truth, 
that  we  should  be  a  kind  of  first-fruits  of  His 
creatures.  How  sweet  and  hallowed  and  richly 
emblematic  our  little  acts  of  obedience  in  this 
matter  become,  when  we  throw  this  light  upon 


OUR  SILVER  AND   GOI<D  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.      Ill 

them  !  And  how  blessedly  they  may  remind  us 
of  the  heavenly  company,  singing,  as  it  were,  a 
new  song  before  the  throne ;  for  they  are  the  first- 
fruits  unto  God  and  to  the  Lamb. 

Perhaps  we  shall  find  no  better  plan  of  detailed 
and  systematic  setting  apart  than  the  New  Testa- 
ment one  :  "  Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  let 
every  one  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store,  as  God  hath 
prospered  him."  The  very  act  of  literally  fulfill- 
ing this  apostolic  command  seems  to  bring  a 
blessing  with  it,  as  all  simple  obedience  does.  I 
wish,  dear  friends,  you  would  try  it!  You  will 
find  it  a  sweet  reminder  on  His  own  day  of  this 
part  of  your  consecration.  You  will  find  it  an 
immense  help  in  making  the  most  of  your  little 
charities.  The  regular  inflow  will  guide  the  out- 
flow and  ensure  your  always  having  something  for 
any  sudden  call  for  your  Masters  poor  or  your 
Master's  cause.  Do  not  say  you  are  "afraid  you 
could  not  keep  to  it. ' '  What  has  a  consecrated 
life  to  do  with  being  "  afraid  ?"  Some  of  us 
could  tell  of  such  sweet  and  singular  lessons  of 
trust  in  this  matter,  that  they  are  written  in  golden 
letters  of  love  on  our  memories.  Of  course  there 
will  be  trials  of  our  faith  in  this,  as  well  as  in 


112  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

everything  else.  But  every  trial  of  our  faith  is 
but  a  trial  of  His  faithfulness,  and  is  "much  more 
precious  than  gold  which  perisheth." 

"What  about  self-denial?"  some  reader  will 
say.  Consecration  does  not  supersede  this,  but 
transfigures  it.  Literally,  a  consecrated  life  is 
and  must  be  a  life  of  denial  of  self.  But  all  the 
effort  and  pain  of  it  is  changed  into  very  delight. 
We  love  our  Master ;  we  know,  surely  and  abso- 
lutely, that  He  is  listening  and  watching  our  every 
word  and  way,  and  that  He  has  called  us  to  the 
privilege  of  walking  "worthy  of  the  Lord  unto 
all  pleasing. ' '  And  in  so  far  as  this  is  a  reality  to 
us,  the  identical  things  which  are  still  §z\i-denial 
in  one  sense,  become  actual  $£\.i-delight  in  another. 
It  may  be  self-denial  to  us  to  turn  away  from 
something  within  reach  of  our  pursa  which  it 
would  be  very  convenient  or  pleasant  to  possess. 
But  if  the  Master  lifted  the  veil,  and  revealed 
Himself  standing  at  our  side,  and  let  us  hear  His 
audible  voice  asking  us  to  reserve  the  price  of  it 
for  His  treasury,  should  we  talk  about  self-denial 
then?  Should  we  not  be  utterly  ashame'd  to 
think  of  it  ?  or  rather,  should  we,  for  one  instant, 
think  about  self  or  self-denial  at  all  ?  Would  it 


OUR  SILVER  AND  GOI,D  KEPT  FOR  JSSUS-      113 

not  be  an  unimaginable  joy  to  do  what  He  asked 
us  to  do  with  that  money  ?  But  as  long  as  His 
own  unchangeable  promise  stands  written  in  His 
word  for  us,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway"  we 
may  be  sure  that  He  is  with  us,  and  that  His  eye 
is  as  certainly  on  our  opened  or  half-opened  purse 
as  it  was  on  the  treasury,  when  He  sat  over  against 
it  and  saw  the  two  mites  cast  in.  So  let  us  do 
our  shopping  "  as  seeing  Him  who  is  invisi- 
ble." 

It  is  important  to  remember  that  there  is  no 
much  or  little  in  God's  sight,  except  as  relatively 
to  our  means  and  willingness.  "  For  if  there  be 
first  a  willing  mind,  it  is  accepted  according  to 
that  a  man  hath,  and  not  according  to  that  he 
hath  not. ' '  He  knows  what  we  have  not,  as  well 
as  what  we  have.  He  knows  all  about  the  low 
wages  in  one  sphere,  and  the  small  allowance,  or 
the  fixed  income  with  rising  prices  in  another. 
And  it  is  not  a  question  of  paying  to  God  what 
can  be  screwed  out  of  these,  but  of  giving  Him 
all,  and  then  holding  all  at  His  disposal,  and 
taking  His  orders  about  the  disposal  of  all. 

But  I  do  not  see  at  all  how  self-indulgence  and 
needless  extravagance  can  possibly  co-exist  with 
8 


114  KEPT  FOR  TEE  MASTER'S  USE. 

true  consecration.  If  we  really  never  do  go 
ivithout  anything  for  the  Lord's  sake,  but  just 
because  He  has  graciously  given  us  means,  always 
supply  for  ourselves  not  only  every  need,  but 
"  every  notion/'  I  think  it  is  high  time  we  looked 
into  the  matter  before  God.  Why  should  only 
those  who  have  limited  means  have  the  privilege 
of  offering  to  their  Lord  that  which  has  really 
cost  them  something  to  offer?  Observe,  it  is  not 
merely  going  without  something  we  would  natur- 
ally like  to  have  or  do,  but  going  without  it  for 
Jesus'  sake.  Not,  "  I  will  go  without  it,  because, 
after  all,  I  can't  very  well  afford  it;  "  or,  "be- 
cause I  really  ought  to  subscribe  to  so  and  so ; " 
or,  "because  I  dare  say  I  shall  be  glad  I  have  not 
spent  the  money;"  but  "I  will  do  without  it,  be- 
cause I  do  want  to  do  a  little  more  for  Him  who 
so  loves  me— just  that  much  more  than  I  could  do 
if  I  did  this  other  thing."  I  fancy  this  is  more 
often  the  heart -language  of  those  who  have  to  cut 
and  contrive,  than  of  those  who  are  able  to  give 
liberally  without  any  cutting  and  contriving  at 
all.  The  very  abundance  of  God's  good  gifts 
too  often  hinders  from  the  privilege  and  delight 
of  really  doing  without  something  superfluous  or 


OUR  SILVER  AND   GOI/D   KEPT   FOR  JESUS.       1 15 

comfortable  or  usual,  that  they  may  give  just  that 
much  more  to  their  Lord.  What  a  pity  ! 

The  following  quotation  may  (I  hope  it  will) 
touch  some  conscience :  "A  gentleman  once  told 
us  that  his  wine-bill  was  ^100  a  year — more  than 
enough  to  keep  a  Scripture  reader  always  at  work 
in  some  populous  district.  And  it  is  one  of  the 
countless  advantages  of  total  abstinence  that  it  at 
once  sets  free  a  certain  amount  of  money  for  such 
work.  Smoking,  too,  is  a  habit  not  only  injurious 
to  the  health  in  a  vast  majority  of  cases,  and,  to 
our  mind,  very  unbecoming  in  a  '  temple  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,'  but  also  one  which  squanders  money 
which  might  be  used  for  the  Lord.  Expenses  in 
dress  might  in  most  people  be  curtailed ;  expen- 
sive tastes  should  be  denied ;  and  simplicity  in 
all  habits  of  life  should  be  a  mark  of  the  followers 
of  Him  who  had  not  where  to  lay  His  head." 

And  again :  "  The  self-indulgence  of  wealthy 
Christians,  who  might  largely  support  the  Lord's 
work  with  what  they  lavish  upon  their  houses, 
their  tables,  or  their  personal  expenditure,  is  very 
sad  to  see."  * 

*  Christian  Progress,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  25,  26. 


n6  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

Here  the  question  of  jewelry  seems  to  come  in. 
Perhaps  it  was  an  instance  of  the  gradual  showing 
of  the  details  of  consecration,  illustrated  on  page 
29,  but  I  will  confess  that  when  I  wrote,  "  Take 
my  silver  and  my  gold,"  it  never  dawned  on  me 
that  anything  was  included  beyond  the  coin  of 
the  realm!  But  the  Lord  "  leads  on  softly/' 
and  a  good  many  of  us  have  been  shown  some 
capital  bits  of  unenclosed,  but  easily  enclosable 
ground,  which  have  yielded  "  pleasant  fruit. " 
Yes,  very  pleasant  fruit !  It  is  wonderfully  nice 
to  light  upon  something  that  we  really  never 
thought  of  as  a  possible  gift  to  our  Lord,  and  just 
to  give  it,  straight  away  to  Him.  I  do  not  press 
the  matter,  but  I  do  ask  my  lady  friends  to  give 
it  fair  and  candid  and  prayerful  consideration. 
Which  do  you  really  care  most  about — a  diamond 
on  your  finger,  or  a  star  in  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom, shining  for  ever  and  ever  ?  That  is  what  it 
comes  to,  and  there  I  leave  it. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  very  possible  to  be 
fairly  faithful  in  much,  and  yet  unfaithful  in  that 
which  is  least.  We  may  have  thought  about  our 
gold  and  silver,  and  yet  have  been  altogether 
thoughtless  about  our  rubbish !  Some  have  a 


OUR  SILVER  AND  GOIJ)  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.      1 1/ 

habit  of  hoarding  away  old  garments,  "  pieces/' 
remnants,  and  odds  and  ends  generally,  under  the 
idea  that  they  "  will  come  in  useful  some  day ;  " 
very  likely  setting  it  up  as  a  kind  of  mild  virtue, 
backed  by  that  noxious  old  saying,  "  Keep  it  by 
you  seven  years,  and  you'll  find  a  use  for  it." 
And  so  the  shabby  things  get  shabbier,  and  moth 
and  dust  doth  corrupt,  and  the  drawers  and 
places  get  choked  and  crowded ;  and  meanwhile 
all  this,  that  is  sheer  rubbish  to  you,  might  be 
made  useful  at  once,  to  a  degree  beyond  what 
you  would  guess,  to  some  poor  person. 

It  would  be  a  nice  variety  for  the  clever  ringers 
of  a  lady's  maid  to  be  set  to  work  to  do  up  old 
things  ;  or  some  tidy  woman  may  be  found  in 
almost  every  locality  who  knows  how  to  contrive 
children's  things  out  of  what  seems  to  you  only 
fit  for  the  rag-bag,  either  for  her  own  little  ones 
or  those  of  her  neighbors. 

My  sister  trimmed  seventy  or  eighty  hats  every 
spring,  for  several  years,  with  the  contents  of 
friends'  rubbish  drawers,  thus  relieving  dozens 
of  poor  mothers  who  liked  their  children  to 
"go  tidy  on  Sunday,"  and  also  keeping  down 

finery  in  her  Sunday-school.     Those  who  literally 
•/  / 


Xl8  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

fulfilled  her  request  for  "rubbish  "  used  to  marvel 
at  the  results. 

Little  scraps  of  carpet,  torn  old  curtains,  faded 
blinds,  and  all  such  gear  go  a  wonderfully  long 
way  towards  making  poor  cottagers  and  old  or 
sick  people  comfortable.  I  never  saw  anything  in 
this  "  rubbish"  line  yet  that  could  not  be  turned 
to  good  account  somehow,  with  a  little  considering 
of  the  poor  and  their  discomforts. 

I  wish  my  lady  reader  would  just  leave  this 
book  now,  and  go  straight  up-stairs  and  have  a 
good  rummage  at  once,  and  see  what  can  be  thus 
cleared  out.  If  she  does  not  know  the  right 
recipients  at  first  hand,  let  her  send  it  off  to 
the  nearest  working  clergyman's  wife,  and  see 
how  gratefully  it  will  be  received  !  For  it  is  a 
great  trial  to  workers  among  the  poor  not  to  be 
able  to  supply  the  needs  they  see.  Such  supplies 
are  far  more  useful  than  treble  their  small  money 
value. 

Just  a  word  of  earnest  pleading  for  needs, 
closely  veiled,  but  very  sore,  which  might  be 
wonderfully  lightened  if  this  wardrobe  overhaul- 
ing were  systematic  and  faithful.  There  are 
hundreds  of  poor  clergymen's  families  to  whom  a 


OUR  SILVER  AND  GOIyD  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.      1 19 

few  old  garments  or  any  household  oddments  are 
as  great  a  charity  as  to  any  of  the  poor  under 
their  charge.  There  are  two  Societies  for  aiding 
these  with  such  gifts,  under  initials  which  are  ex- 
plained in  the  Reports :  the  P.  P.  C.  Society — 
Secretary,  Miss  Breay,  Battenhall  Place,  Worces- 
ter y  and  the  A.  F.  D.  Society — Secretary,  Miss 
Hinton,  4  York  Place,  Clifton.  I  only  ask  my 
lady  friends  to  send  for  a  report  to  either  of  these 
devoted  secretaries;  and  if  their  hearts  are  not  so 
touched  by  the  cases  of  brave  and  bitter  need 
that  they  go  forthwith  to  wardrobes  and  drawers 
to  see  what  can  be  spared  and  sent,  they  are 
colder  and  harder  than  I  give  English  women 
credit  for. 

There  is  no  bondage  in  consecration.  The 
two  things  are  opposites,  and  can  not  co-exist, 
much  less  mingle.  We  should  suspect  our  conse- 
cration, and  come  afresh  to  our  great  Counsellor 
a-uout  it,  directly  we  have  any  sense  of  bondage. 
As  long  as  we  have  an  unacknowledged  feeling  of 
fidget  about  our  account-book,  and  a  smothered 
wondering  what  and  how  much  we  "ought"  to 
give,  and  the  hushed-up  wishing  the  thing  had 
not  been  put  quite  so  strongly  before  us,  depend 


I2O  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

upon  it  we  have  not  said  unreservedly,  "  Take  my 
silver  and  my  gold."  And  how  can  the  Lord 
keep  what  He  has  not  been  sincerely  asked  to 
take? 

Ah  !  if  we  had  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross 
and  watched  the  tremendous  payment  of  our  re- 
demption with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ — if 
we  had  seen  that  awful  price  told  out,  drop  by 
drop,  from  His  own  dear,  patient  brow  and 
torn  hands  and  feet  till  it  was  ALL  paid,  and 
the  central  word  of  eternity  was  uttered,  "It  is 
finished!"  should  we  not  have  been  ready  to 
say,  "Not  a  mite  will  I  withhold /" 

MY  JEWELS. 

"  Shall  I  hold  them  back — my  jewels  ? 

Time  has  traveled  many  a  day 
Since  I  laid  them  by  forever, 

Safely  locking  them  away ; 
And  I  thought  them  yielded  wholly, 

When  I  dared  no  longer  wear 
Gems  contrasting,  oh,  so  sadly ! 

With  the  adorning  I  would  bear. 

"  Shall  I  keep  them  still— my  jewels? 
Shall  I,  can  I,  yet  withhold 


OUR  SILVER  AND  GOLD  KEPT   FOR  JESUS.      121 

From  that  living,  loving  Saviour 

Aught  of  silver  or  of  gold  ? 
Gold  so  needed,  that  His  gospel 

May  resound  from  sea  to  sea ; 
Can  I  know  Christ's  service  lacketh 

Yet  forget  His  l  unto  Me  ?  > 

*  No  ;  I  lay  them  down — my  jewels, 

Truly  on  the  altar  now. 
Stay!  I  see  a  vision  passing 
Of  a  gem-encircled  brow. 
Heavenly  treasure  worn  by  Jesus, 

Souls  won  through  my  gift  outpoured ; 
Freely,  gladly  I  will  offer 
Jewels  thus  to  crown  my  Lord." 

— From  Woman's  Work. 


122  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

OUR   INTELLECTS    KEPT   FOR  JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  intellect,  and  use 
Every  power  as  Thou  shalt  choose." 

THERE  are  two  distinct  sets  of  temptation 
which  assail  those  who  have,  or  think  they 
have,  rather  less,  and  those  who  have,  or 
think  the  have,  rather  more  than  an  average  share 
of  intellect ;  while  those  who  have  neither  less  nor 
more  are  generally  open  in  some  degree  to  both. 
The  refuge  and  very  present  help  from  both  is 
the  same.     The  intellect,  whether  great  or  small, 
which  is  committed  to  the  Lord's  keeping,  will  be 
kept  and  will  be  used  by  Him. 

The  former  class  are  tempted  to  think  them- 
selves excused  from  effort  to  cultivate  and  use 
their  small  intellectual  gifts ;  to  suppose  they  can 
not  or  need  not  seek  to  win  souls,  because  they 
are  not  so  clever  and  apt  in  speech  as  So-and-so ; 
to  attribute  to  want  of  gift  what  is  really  want  of 
grace ;  to  hide  the  one  talent  because  it  is  not 


OUR  INTSI^ECTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  12* 

five.  Let  me  throw  out  a  thought  or  two  for 
these. 

Which  is  greatest,  gifts  or  grace?  Gifts  are 
given  "  to  every  man  according  to  his  several 
ability."  That  is,  we  have  just  as  much  given  as 
God  knows  we  are  able  to  use  and  what  He  knows 
we  can  best  use  for  Him.  "  But  unto  every  one 
of  us  is  given  grace  according  to  the  measure  of 
the  gift  of  Christ."  Claiming  and  using  that 
royal  measure  of  grace,  you  may,  and  can  and 
will  do  more  for  God  than  the  mightiest  intellect 
in  the  world  without  it.  For  which,  in  the  clear 
light  of  His  Word,  is  likely  to  be  most  effectual 
the  natural  ability  which  at  its  best  and  fullest, 
without  Christ,  "can  do  nothing •,"  (observe 
and  believe  that  word  !),  or  the  grace  of  our 
Almighty  God  and  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
which  is  as  free  to  you  as  it  ever  was  to  any  one  ? 

If  you  are  responsible  for  making  use  of  your 
limited  gift,  are  you  not  equally  responsible  for 
making  use  of  the  grace  and  power  which  are  to 
be  had  for  the  asking,  which  are  already  yours  in 
Christ,  and  which  are  not  limited  ? 

Also,  do  you  not  see  that  when  there  are  great 
natural  gifts,  people  give  the  credit  to  them, 


124  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

instead  of  to  the  grace  which  alone  did  the  real 
work,  and  thus  God  is  defrauded  of  the  glory  ? 
So  that,  to  say  it  reverently,  God  can  get  more 
glory  out  of  a  feeble  instrument,  because  then  it  is 
more  obvious  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  is 
of  God  and  not  of  us.  Will  you  not  henceforth 
say,  "  Most  gladly,  therefore,  will  I  rather  glory 
in  my  infirmities,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may 
rest  upon  me  ?  " 

Don't  you  really  believe  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is 
just  as  able  to  draw  a  soul  to  Jesus,  if  He  will,  by 
your  whisper  of  the  one  word  "  Come"  as  by  an 
eloquent  sermon  an  hour  long  ?  /  do  !  At  the 
same  time,  as  it  is  evidently  God's  way  to  work 
through  these  intellects  of  ours,  we  have  no  more 
right  to  expect  Him  to  use  a  mind  which  we  are 
wilfully  neglecting,  and  taking  no  pains  whatever 
to  fit  for  His  use,  than  I  should  have  to  expect 
you  to  write  a  beautiful  inscription  with  my  pen, 
if  I  would  not  take  the  trouble  to  wipe  it  and 
mend  it. 

The  latter  class  are  tempted  to  rely  on  their 
natural  gifts,  and  to  act  and  speak  in  their  own 
strength ;  to  go  on  too  fast,  without  really  looking 
up  at  every  step,  and  for  every  word ;  to  spend 


OUR  INTEI<I<ECTS   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  125 

their  Lord's  time  in  polishing  up  their  intellects, 
nominally  for  the  sake  of  influence  and  power> 
and  so  forth,  while  really,  down  at  the  bottom, 
it  is  for  the  sake  of  the  keen  enjoyment  of  the 
process ;  and  perhaps,  most  of  all,  to  spend  the 
strength  of  these  intellects  "  for  that  which  doth 
not  profit,"  in  yielding  to  the  specious  snare  of 
reading  clever  books  "  on  both  sides,"  and  eat- 
ing deliberately  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of 
good  and  evil. 

The  mere  mention  of  these  temptations  should 
be  sufficient  appeal  to  conscience.  If  consecra- 
tion is  to  be  a  reality  anywhere,  should  it  not  be 
in  the  very  thing  which  you  own  as  an  extra  gift 
from  God,  and  which  is  evidently  closest,  so  to 
speak,  to  His  direct  action,  spirit  upon  spirit? 
And  if  the  very  strength  of  your  intellect  has 
been  your  weakness,  will  you  not  entreat  Him  to 
keep  it  henceforth  really  and  entirely  for  Himself? 
It  is  so  good  of  Him  to  have  given  you  something 
to  lay  at  His  feet ;  shall  not  this  goodness  lead 
you  to  lay  it  all  there,  and  never  hanker  after 
taking  it  back  for  yourself  or  the  world?  Do 
you  not  feel  that  in  very  proportion  to  the  gift 
you  need  the  special  keeping  of  it?  He  may 


126  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

lead  you  by  a  way  you  know  not  in  the  matter ; 
very  likely  He  will  show  you  that  you  must  be 
willing  to  be  a  fool  for  His  sake  first,  before  He 
will  condescend  to  use  you  much  for  His  glory. 
Will  you  look  up  into  His  face  and  say,  "Not 
willing  ?" 

He  who  made  every  power  can  use  every  power 
— memory,  judgment,  imagination,  quickness  of 
apprehension  or  insight;  specialties  of  musical, 
poetical,  oratorical,  or  artistic  faculty;  special 
tastes  for  reasoning,  philosophy,  history,  natural 
science,  or  natural  history, — all  these  may  be 
dedicated  to  Him,  sanctified  by  Him,  and  used 
by  Him.  Whatever  He  has  given,  He  will  use  if 
we  will  let  Him.  Often,  in  the  most  unexpected 
ways,  and  at  the  most  unexpected  turns,  some- 
thing read  or  acquired  long  ago  suddenly  comes 
into  use.  We  cannot  foresee  what  will  thus 
"come  in  useful;"  but  He  knew,  when  He 
guided  us  to  learn  it,  what  it  would  be  wanted 
for  in  His  service.  So  may  we  not  ask  Him  to 
bring  His  perfect  foreknowledge  to  bear  on  all 
our  mental  training  and  storing  ?  to  guide  us  to 
read  or  study  exactly  what  He  knows  there  will 


OUR  INTEl,lvECTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  127 

be  use  for  in  the  work  to  which  He  has  called  or 
will  call  us  ? 

Nothing  is  more  practically  perplexing  to  a 
young  Christian,  whose  preparation- time  is  not 
quite  over,  or  perhaps  painfully  limited,  than  to 
know  what  is  most  worth  studying,  what  is  really 
the  best  investment  of  the  golden  hours,  while  yet 
the  time  is  not  come  for  the  field  of  active  work 
to  be  fully  entered,  and  the  "  thoroughly  furnish- 
ing" of  the  mind  is  the  evident  path  of  present 
duty.  Is  not  His  name  called  "  Counsellor  ?  " 
and  will  He  not  be  faithful  to  the  promise  of  His 
name  in  this,  as  well  as  in  all  else  ? 

The  same  applies  to  every  subsequent  stage. 
Only  let  us  be  perfectly  clear  about  the  principle 
that  our  intellect  is  not  our  own,  either  to  culti- 
vate, or  to  use,  or  to  enjoy,  and  that  Jesus  Christ 
is  our  real  and  ever-present  Counsellor,  and  then 
there  will  be  no  more  worry  about  what  to  read 
and  how  much  to  read,  and  whether  to  keep  up 
one's  accomplishments,  or  one's  languages,  or 
one's  "  ologies  /"  If  the  Master  has  need  of 
them,  He  will  show  us ;  and  if  He  has  not,  what 
need  have  we  of  them  ?  If  we  go  forward  with- 
out His  leading,  we  may  throw  away  some  talent, 


128  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

or  let  it  get  too  rusty  for  use,  which  would  have 
been  most  valuable  when  other  circumstances 
arose  or  different  work  was  given.  We  must  not 
think  that  " keeping"  means  not  using  at  all! 
What  we  want  is  to  have  all  our  powers  kept  for 
His  use. 

In  this  they  will  probably  find  far  higher  de- 
velopment than  in  any  other  sort  of  use.  I  know 
cases  in  which  the  effect  of  real  consecration  on 
mere  mental  development  has  been  obvious  and 
surprising  to  all  round.  Yet  it  is  only  a  confir- 
mation of  what  I  believe  to  be  a  great  principle, 
viz.,  that  the  Lord  makes  the  most  of  whatever  is 
unreservedly  surrendered  to  Him.  There  will 
always  be  plenty  of  waste  in  what  we  try  to  cut 
out  for  ourselves.  But  He  wastes  no  material ! 


OUR  WII<LS  KEPT  FOR  TESUS.  I2g 


CHAPTER  IX. 

OUR  WILLS    KEPT   FOR   JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  will,  oh,  keep  it  Thine, 
For  it  is  no  longer  mine." 

F)ERHAPS  there  is  no  point  in  which  ex- 
I  pectation  has  been  so  limited  by  experience 

as  this.  We  believe  God  is  able  to  do  for 
us  just  so  much  as  He  has  already  done,  and  no 
more.  We  take  it  for  granted  a  line  must  be 
drawn  somewhere ;  and  so  we  choose  to  draw  it 
where  experience  ends,  and  faith  would  have  to 
begin.  Even  if  we  have  trusted  and  proved  Him 
as  to  keeping  our  members  and  our  minds,  faith 
fails  when  we  would  go  deeper  and  say,  "  Keep 
my  will !  "  And  yet  the  only  reason  we  have  to 
give  is,  that  though  we  have  asked  Him  to  take 
our  will,  we  do  not  exactly  find  that  it  is  alto- 
gether His,  but  that  self-will  crops  up  again  and 
again.  And  whatever  flaw  there  might  be  in  this 
argument,  we  think  the  matter  is  quite  settled  by 
the  fact  that  some  whom  we  rightly  esteem,  and 

9 


130  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

who  are  far  better  than  ourselves,  have  the  same 
experience,  and  do  not  even  seem  to  think  it 
right  to  hope  for  anything  better.  That  is 
conclusive !  And  the  result  of  this,  as  of  every 
other  faithless  conclusion,  is  either  discourage- 
ment and  depression,  or,  still  worse,  acquiescence 
in  an  unyielded  will,  as  something  that  can't  be 
helped. 

Now  let  us  turn  from  our  thoughts  to  God's 
thoughts.  Verily,  they  are  not  as  ours !  He 
says  He  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above 
all  that  we  ask  or  think.  Apply  this  here.  We 
ask  Him  to  take  our  wills  and  make  them  His. 
Does  He  or  does  He  not  mean  what  He  says  ? 
and  if  He  does,  should  we  not  trust  Him  to  do 
this  thing  that  we  have  asked  and  longed  for,  and 
not  less,  but  more?  "  Is  anything  too  hard  for 
the  Lord  ?  "  "  Hath  He  said,  and  shall  He  not 
do  it?  "  and  if  He  gives  us  faith  to  believe  that 
we  have  the  petition  that  we  desired  of  Him, 
and  with  it  the  unspeakable  rest  of  leaning  our 
will  wholly  upon  His  love,  what  ground  have 
we  for  imagining  that  this  is  necessarily  to  be  a 
mere  fleeting  shadow,  which  is  hardly  to  last  an 
(«our,  but  is  necessarily  to  be  exhausted  ere  the 


OUR  WIIvI,S  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  13! 

next  breath  of  trial  or  temptation  comes  ?  Does 
He  mock  our  longing  by  acting  as  I  have  seen  an 
older  person  act  to  a  child,  by  accepting  some 
trifling  gift  of  no  intrinsic  value,  just  to  please  the 
little  one,  and  then  throwing  it  away  as  soon  as 
the  child's  attention  is  diverted?  Is  not  the 
taking  rather  the  pledge  of  the  keeping,  if  we  will 
but  entrust  Him  fearlessly  with  it?  We  give  Him 
no  opportunity,  so  to  speak,  of  proving  His  faith- 
fulness to  this  great  promise,  because  we  will  not 
fulfill  the  condition  of  reception,  believing  it. 
But  we  readily  enough  believe  instead  all  that  we 
hear  of  the  unsatisfactory  experience  of  others ! 
Or,  start  from  another  word.  Job  said,  "  I  know 
that  Thou  canst  do  everything,"  and  we  turn 
round  and  say,  "  Oh  yes,  everything  except  keep- 
ing my  will!"  Dare  we  add,  "And  I  know 
that  Thou  canst  not  do  that  ?  "  Yet  that  is  what 
is  said  every  day,  only  in  other  words;  and  if 
not  said  aloud,  it  is  said  in  faithless  hearts,  and 
God  hears  it.  What  does  "  Almighty  "  mean,  if 
it  does  not  mean  as  we  teach  our  little  children, 
" able  to  do  everything?" 

We  have  asked  this  great  thing  many  a  time, 
without,  perhaps,  realizing  how  great  a  petition 


132  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

we  were  singing  in  the  old  morning  hymn, 
"  Guard  my  first  springs  of  thought  and  will !  " 
That  goes  to  the  root  of  the  matter,  only  it  im- 
plies that  the  will  has  been  already  surrendered 
to  Him,  that  it  may  be  wholly  kept  and  guarded. 
It  may  be  that  we  have  not  sufficiently  realized 
the  sin  of  the  only  alternative.  Our  wills  belong 
either  to  self  or  to  God.  It  may  seem  a  small 
and  rather  excusable  sin  in  man's  sight  to  be  self- 
willed,  but  see  in  what  a  category  of  iniquity 
God  puts  it !  (2  Pet.  ii.  10.)  And  certainly  we 
are  without  excuse  when  we  have  such  a  promise 
to  go  upon  as,  "It  is  God  that  worketh  in  you 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  pleasure."  How 
splendidly  this  meets  our  very  deepest  helpless- 
ness,— "worketh  in  you  to  will!''1  Oh,  let  us 
pray  for  ourselves  and  for  each  other,  that  we 
may  know  "  what  is  the  exceeding  greatness  of 
His  power  to  usward  who  believe."  It  does  not 
say  "to  usward  who  fear  and  doubt;"  for  if  we 
will  not  believe,  neither  shall  we  be  established. 
If  we  will  not  believe  what  God  says  He  can  do, 
we  shall  see  it  with  our  eyes,  but  we  shall  not  eat 
thereof.  "They  could  not  enter  in  because  of 
unbelief." 


OUR  WHJ<S  KEPT  FOR  JKSUS.  133 

It  is  most  comforting  to  remember  that  the 
grand  promise,  "Thy  people  shall  be  willing  in 
the  day  of  Thy  power,"  is  made  by  the  Father 
to  Christ  Himself.  The  Lord  Jesus  holds  this 
promise,  and  God  will  fulfill  it  to  Him.  He 
will  make  us  willing  because  He  has  promised 
Jesus  that  He  will  do  so.  And  what  is  being 
made  willing,  but  having  our  will  taken  and 
kept? 

All  true  surrender  of  the  will  is  based  upon 
love  and  knowledge  of,  and  confidence  in,  the 
one  to  whom  it  is  surrendered.  We  have  the 
human  analogy  so  often  before  our  eyes  that  it  is 
the  more  strange  we  should  be  so  slow  to  own 
even  the  possibility  of  it  as  to  God.  Is  it 
thought  anything  so  very  extraordinary  and  high- 
flown,  when  a  bride  deliberately  prefers  wearing 
a  color  which  was  not  her  own  taste  or  choice, 
because  her  husband  likes  to  see  her  in  it  ?  Is  it 
very  unnatural  that  it  is  no  distress  to  her  to  do 
what  he  asks  her  to  do,  or  to  go  with  him  where 
he  asks  her  to  come,  even  without  question  or 
explanation,  instead  of  doing  what  or  going 
where  she  would  undoubtedly  have  preferred  if 
she  did  not  know  and  love  him  ?  Is  it  very  sur- 


134  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

prising  if  this  lasts  beyond  the  wedding-day,  and 
if,  year  after  year,  she  still  finds  it  her  greatest 
pleasure  to  please  him,  quite  irrespective  of  what 
used  to  be  her  own  ways  and  likings?  Yet  in 
this  case  she  is  not  helped  by  any  promise  or 
power  on  his  part  to  make  her  wish  what  he 
wishes.  But  He  who  so  wonderfully  condescends 
to  call  Himself  the  Bridegroom  of  His  church, 
and  who  claims  our  fullest  love  and  trust,  has 
promised  and  has  power  to  work  in  us  to  will. 
Shall  we  not  claim  His  promise  and  rely  on  His 
mighty  power,  and  say,  not  self-confidently,  but 
looking  only  unto  Jesus— 

"  Keep  my  will,  for  it  is  Thine ; 
Tt  shall  be  no  longer  mine  !  " 

Only  in  proportion  as  our  own  will  is  sur- 
rendered, are  we  able  to  discern  the  splendor  of 
God's  will. 

For  oh !  it  is  a  splendor, 

A  glow  of  majesty, 
A  mystery  of  beauty, 

If  we  will  only  see ; 
A  very  cloud  of  glory 

Enfolding  you  and  me. 


OUR  WII<I,S  KICPT  FOR  JKSUS.  1 35 

A  splendor  that  is  lighted 

At  one  transcendent  flame, 
The  wondrous  Love,  the  perfect  Love, 

Our  Father's  sweetest  name ; 
For  His  Name  and  very  Essence 

And  His  Will  are  all  the  same ! 

Conversely  in  proportion  as  we  see  this  splendor 
of  His  will,  we  shall  more  readily  or  more  fully 
surrender  our  own.  Not  until  we  have  presented 
our  bodies  a  living  sacrifice  can  we  prove  what  is 
that  good,  and  perfect,  and  acceptable  will  of 
God.  But  in  thus  proving  it  this  continual 
presentation  will  be  more  and  more  seen  to  be 
our  reasonable  service,  and  becomes  more  and 
more  a  joyful  sacrifice  of  praise 

The  connection  in  Romans  xii.  i,  2,  between 
our  sacrifice  which  He  so  graciously  calls  accept- 
able to  Himself,  and  our  finding  out  that  His  will 
is  acceptable  to  ourselves,  is  very  striking.  One 
reason  for  this  connection  may  be  that  only  love 
can  really  understand  love,  and  love  on  both 
sides  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  transaction  l 
and  its  results.  First,  He  loves  us.  Then  the 
discovery  of  this  leads  us  to  love  Him.  Then, 
because  He  loves  us,  He  claims  us,  and  desires  to 


136  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

have  us  wholly  yielded  to  His  will,  so  that  the 
operations  of  love  in  and  for  us,  may  find  no 
hindrance.  Then,  because  we  love  Him,  we 
recognize  His  claim  and  yield  ourselves.  Then, 
being  thus  yielded,  He  draws  us  nearer  to  Him,* 
and  admits  us,  so  to  speak,  into  closer  intimacy 
so  that  we  gain  nearer  and  truer  views  of  His 
perfections.  Then  the  unity  of  these  perfec- 
tions becomes  clearer  to  us.  Now  we  not  only 
see  His  justice  and  mercy  flowing  in  undivided 
stream  from  the  cross  of  Christ,  but  we  see  that 
they  never  were  divided,  though  the  strange  dis- 
tortions of  the  dark,  false  glass  of  sin  made  them 
appear  so,  but  that  both  are  but  emanations  of 
God's  holy  love.  Then  having  known  and 
believed  this  holy  love,  we  see  further  that  His 
will  is  not  a  separate  thing,  but  only  love  (and 
therefore  all  His  attributes)  in  action  ;  love  being 
the  primary  essence  of  His  being,  and  all  the 
other  attributes,  manifestations  and  combinations 
of  that  ineffable  essence,  for  God  is  Love.  Then 
this  will  of  God,  which  has  seemed  in  old  far-off 

* "  Now  ye  have  consecrated  yourselves  unto  the  Lord, 
come  near"  (2  Chron.  xxix.  31). 


OUR  WII,I,S  KKPT  FOR  JESUS.  1 37 

days  a  stern  and  fateful  power,  is  seen  to  be  only 
love  energized ;  love  saying,  "  I  will. ' '  And  when 
once  we  really  grasp  this  (hardly  so  much  by 
faith  as  by  love  itself),  the  will  of  God  cannot  be 
otherwise  than  acceptable,  for  it  is  no  longer  a 
question  of  trusting  that  somehow  or  other  there 
is  a  hidden  element  of  love  in  it,  but  of  under- 
standing that  it  is  love ;  no  more  to  be  disso- 
ciated from  it  than  the  power  of  the  sun's  rays 
can  be  dissociated  from  their  light  and  warmth. 
And  love  recognized  must  surely  be  love  accepted 
and  reciprocated.  So,  as  the  fancied  sternness  of 
God's  will  is  lost  in  His  love,  the  stubbornness  of 
our  will  becomes  melted  in  that  love,  and  lost  in 
our  acceptance  of  it. 

"  Take  Thine  own  way  with  me,  dear  Lord, 

Thou  canst  not  otherwise  than  bless ; 
I  launch  me  forth  upon  a  sea 

Of  boundless  love  and  tenderness. 

"  I  could  not  choose  a  larger  bliss 

Than  to  be  wholly  Thine ;  and  mine 
A  will  whose  highest  joy  is  this 
To  ceaselessly  unclasp  in  Thine. 

"  I  will  not  fear  Thee,  O  my  God ! 
The  days  to  come  can  only  bring 


138  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

Their  perfect  sequences  of  love, 
Thy  larger,  deeper  comforting. 

"  Within  the  shadow  of  this  love, 

Loss  doth  transmute  itself  to  gain ; 
Faith  veils  earth's  sorrows  in  its  light, 
And  straightway  lives  above  her  pain. 

"  We  are  not  losers  thus ;  we  share 

The  perfect  gladness  of  the  Son, 
Not  conquered — for,  behold,  we  reign ; 
Conquered  and  Conqueror  are  one. 

"  Thy  wonderful  grand  will,  my  God ! 

Triumphantly  I  make  it  mine ; 
And  faith  shall  breathe  her  glad  *  Amen* 
To  every  dear  command  of  Thine. 

"  Beneath  the  splendor  of  Thy  choice, 
Thy  perfect  choice  for  me,  I  rest ; 
Outside  it  now  I  dare  not  live, 
Within  it  I  must  needs  be  blest. 

"  Meanwhile  my  spirit  anchors  calm 
In  grander  regions  still  than  this; 
The  fair,  far-shining  latitudes 
Of  that  yet  unexplored  bliss. 

"  Then  may  Thy  perfect,  glorious  will 

Be  evermore  fulfilled  in  me, 
And  make  my  life  an  answ'ring  chord 
Of  glad,  responsive  harmony. 


OUR  WII^S  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  139 

"  Oh !  it  is  life  indeed  to  live 

Within  this  kingdom  strangely  sweet ; 
And  yet  we  fear  to  enter  in, 
And  linger  with  unwilling  feet. 

We  fear  this  wondrous  rule  of  Thine, 
Because  we  have  not  reached  Thy  heart ; 

Not  venturing  our  all  on  Thee, 

We  may  not  know  how  good  Thou  art." 

JEAN  SOPHIA  PIGOTT, 


140  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

CHAPTER  X. 

OUR   HEARTS   KEPT   FOR  JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  heart;  it  is  Thine  own; 
It  is  now  Thy  royal  throne." 

"  TT  is  a  good  thing  that  the  heart  be  established 
1     with  grace,"  and  yet  some  of  us  go  on  as  if 
it  were  not  a  good  thing  even  to  hope  for 
it  to  be  so. 

We  should  be  ashamed  to  say  that  we  had  be- 
haved treacherously  to  a  friend;  that  we  had 
played  him  false  again  and  again ;  that  we  had 
said  scores  of  times  what  we  did  not  really  mean ; 
that  we  had  professed  and  promised  what,  all  the 
while,  we  had  no  sort  of  purpose  of  performing. 
We  should  be  ready  to  go  off  by  next  ship  to  New 
Zealand  rather  than  calmly  own  to  all  this,  or 
rather  than  ever  face  our  friends  again  after  we 
had  owned  it.  And  yet  we  are  not  ashamed 
(some  of  us)  to  say  that  we  are  always  dealing 
treacherously  with  our  Lord ;  nay,  more,  we  own 
it  with  an  inexplicable  complacency,  as  if  there 


OUR  HEARTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  141 

were  a  kind  of  virtue  in  saying  how  fickle  and 
faithless  and  desperately  wicked  our  hearts  are ; 
and  we  actually  plume  ourselves  on  the  easy  con- 
fession, which  we  think  proves  our  humility,  and 
which  does  not  lower  us  in  the  eyes  of  others,  nor 
in  our  own  eyes,  half  so  much  as  if  we  had  to  say, 
"I  have  told  a  story,"  or,  "I  have  broken  my 
promise."  Nay,  more,  we  have  not  the  slightest 
hope,  and  therefore  not  the  smallest  intention  of 
aiming  at  an  utterly  different  state  of  things. 
Well  for  us  if  we  do  not  go  a  step  farther,  and 
call  those  by  hard  and  false  names  who  do  seek 
to  have  an  established  heart,  and  who  believe 
that  as  the  Lord  meant  what  He  said  when  He 
promised,  "  No  good  thing  will  He  withhold 
from  them  that  walk  uprightly,"  so  He  will  not 
withhold  this  good  thing. 

Prayer  must  be  based  upon  promise,  but,  thank 
God,  His  promises  are  always  broader  than  our 
prayers.  No  fear  of  building  inverted  pyramids 
here,  for  Jesus  Christ  is  the  foundation,  and 
this  and  all  the  other  "  promises  of  God  in 
Him  are  yea  and  in  Him  amen,  unto  the  glory  of 
God  by  us."  So  it  shall  be  unto  His  glory  to 
fulfill  this  one  to  us,  and  to  answer  our  prayer  for 


142  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

a  "kept"  or  "established"  heart.  And  its  ful- 
fillment shall  work  out  His  glory,  not  in  spite  of 
us,  but  "  by  us." 

We  find  both  the  means  and  the  result  of  the 
keeping  in  the  1 1 2th  Psalm  :  ' '  His  heart  is  fixed. ' ' 
Whose  heart?  An  angel?  A  saint  in  glory? 
No  !  Simply  the  heart  of  the  man  that  feareth 
the  Lord,  and  delighteth  greatly  in  His  command- 
ments. Therefore  yours  and  mine,  as  God  would 
have  them  be ;  just  the  normal  idea  of  a  God- 
fearing heart,  nothing  extremely  and  hopelessly 
beyond  attainment. 

"Fixed."  How  does  that  tally  with  the  de- 
ceitfulness  and  waywardness  and  fickleness  about 
which  we  really  talk  as  if  we  were  rather  proud 
of  them  than  utterly  ashamed  of  them  ? 

Does  our  heavenly  Bridegroom  expect  nothing 
more  of  us?  Does  His  mighty,  all-constraining 
love  intend  to  do  no  more  for  us  than  to  leave  us 
in  this  deplorable  state,  when  He  is  undoubtedly 
able  to  heal  the  desperately  wicked  heart  (com- 
pare verses  9  and  14  of  Jeremiah  xvii.),  to  rule 
the  wayward  one  with  His  peace,  and  to  establish 
the  fickle  one  with  His  grace?  Are  we  not 
"  without  excuse  ?  " 


OUR  HEARTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  143 

"  Fixed,  trusting  in  the  Lord."  Here  is  the 
means  of  the  fixing — trust.  He  works  the  trust 
in  us  by  sending  the  Holy  Spirit  to  reveal  God  in 
Christ  to  us  as  absolutely,  infinitely  worthy  of  our 
trust.  When  we  "  see  Jesus"  by  spirit- wrought 
faith,  we  can  not  but  trust  Him ;  we  distrust  our 
hearts  more  truly  than  ever  before,  but  we  trust 
our  Lord  entirely,  because  we  trust  Him  only. 
For,  entrusting  our  trust  to  Him,  we  know  that 
He  is  able  to  keep  that  which  we  commit  (Y.  <?., 
entrust)  to  Him.  It  is  His  own  way  of  winning 
and  fixing  our  hearts  for  Himself.  Is  it  not 
a  beautiful  one  ?  Thus  "  his  heart  is  established." 
But  we  have  not  quite  faith  enough  to  believe 
that.  So  what  is  the  very  first  doubting,  and 
therefore  sad  thought  that  crops  up?  "  Yes,  but 
I  am  afraid 'it  will  not  remain  fixed." 

That  is  your  thought.  Now  see  what  is  God's 
thought  about  the  case.  "  His  heart  is  established, 
he  shall  not  be  afraid." 

Is  not  that  enough  ?  What  ts,  if  such  plain 
and  yet  divine  words  are  not  ?  Well,  the  Gracious 
One  bears  with  us,  and  gives  line  upon  line  to 
His  poor  little  children.  And  so  He  says,  "  The 
peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding, 


144  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

shall  keep  your  hearts  and  minds  through  Christ 
Jesus. "  And  again,  "Thy  thoughts  shall  be 
established/1  And  again,  "  Thou  wilt  keep  him 
in  perfect  peace,  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  Thee, 
because  he  trusteth  in  Thee." 

And  to  prove  to  us  that  these  promises  can  be 
realized  in  present  experience,  He  sends  down  to 
us  through  nearly  3,000  years  the  words  of  the 
man  who  prayed,  "  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O 
God,"  and  let  us  hear  twice  over  the  new  song 
put  by  the  same  Holy  Spirit  into  his  mouth :  "  My 
heart  is  fixed,  O  God,  my  heart  is  fixed  "  (Ps. 
Ivii.  7,  cviii.  i). 

The  heart  that  is  established  in  Christ  is  also 
established  for  Christ.  It  becomes  His  royal 
throne,  no  longer  occupied  by  His  foe,  no  longer 
tottering  and  unstable.  And  then  we  see  the 
beauty  and  preciousness  of  the  promise,  "  He 
shall  be  a  Priest  upon  His  throne."  Not  only 
reigning,  but  atoning.  Not  only  ruling,  but 
cleansing.  Thus  the  throne  is  established  "  in 
mercy,"  but  "  by  righteousness." 

I  think  we  lose  ground  sometimes  by  parleying 
with  the  tempter.  We  have  no  business  to  parley 
with  an  usurper.  The  throne  is  no  longer  his 


OUR  HEARTS  KEPT  FOR  JESUS. 


'45 


when  we  have  surrendered  it  to  our  Lord  Jesus. 
And  why  should  we  allow  him  to  argue  with  us 
for  one  instant,  as  if  it  were  still  an  open  ques- 
tion? Don't  listen;  simply  tell  him  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  on  the  long-disputed  throne,  and  no 
more  about  it,  but  turn  at  once  to  your  King  and 
claim  the  glorious  protection  of  His  sovereignty 
over  you.  It  is  a  splendid  reality,  and  you  will 
find  it  so.  He  will  not  abdicate  and  leave  you 
kingless  and  defenceless.  For  verily,  "The  Lord 
is  our  King;  he  will  save  us"  (Isa.  xxxiii.  22). 


Our  hearts  are  naturally  — 

God  can 

make  them— 

Evil     .   ,    . 

Heb.  iii.  12 

Clean  .    .    . 

Ps.  li.  10 

Desperately 

wicked     . 

Jer.  xvii.  9 

Good 

Luke  viii.  15 

Weak  .    .    . 

Ezek.  xvi.  30 

Fixed  .    .    . 

Ps.  cxii.  7 

Deceitful      . 

Jer.  xvii.  9 

Faithful    .    . 

Neh.  ix.  8 

Deceived     . 

Isa.  xliv.  20 

Understand- 

ing   ... 

I  Kings  iii.  9 

Double    .    . 

Ps.  xii.  2 

Honest    .    . 

Luke  viii.  15 

Impenitent  . 

Rom.  ii.  5 

Contrite  .    . 

Ps.  li.  17 

Rebellious   . 

Ter.  v.  21 

True    .    .    . 

Heb.  x.  22 

Hard    .    .    . 

J  **   *      •    *"O 

Ezek.  iii.  7 

Soft      .    .    . 

Job  xxiii.  1  6 

Stony  .    .    . 

Ezek.  xi.  19 

New    .    .    . 

Ezek.  xviii.  32 

Froward  .    . 

Prov.  xvii.  20 

Sound  .    .    . 

Ps.  cxix.  80 

Despiteful    . 

Ezek.  xxv.  15 

Glad    .    .    . 

Ps.  xvi.  9 

Stout    .    .    . 

Isa.  x.  12 

Established 

Ps.  cxii.  8 

Haughty 

Prov.  xviii.  12 

Tender    .    . 

Ephes.  iv.  32 

Proud  .    .    . 

Prov.  xxi.  4 

Pure     . 

Matt.  v.  8 

Perverse  .    . 

Prov.  xii.  8 

Perfect     .    . 

I  Chron.  xxix.  9 

Foolish    .    . 

Rom.  i.  21 

Wise    .   .    . 

Prov.  xi.  20 

10 

146  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

OUR  LOVE   KEPT   FOR   JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  love ;  my  Lord,  I  pour 
At  Thy  feet  its  treasure-store." 

NOT  as  a  mere  echo  from  the  morning-gilded 
shore  of  Tiberias,  but  as  an  ever-new,  ever- 
sounding  note  of  divinest  power  come  the 
familiar  words  to  each  of  us,  "  Lovest  thou  Me  ?  " 
He  says  it  who  has  loved  us  with  an  everlasting 
love.     He  says  it  who  has  died  for  us.     He  says 
it  who  has  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own 
blood.     He  says  it  who  has  waited  for  our  love, 
waited  patiently  all  through  our  coldness. 

And  if  by  His  grace  we  have  said,  "  Take  my 
love,"  which  of  us  has  not  felt  that  part  of  His 
very  answer  has  been  to  make  us  see  how  little 
there  was  to  take,  and  how  little  of  that  little  has 
been  kept  for  Him  ?  And  yet  we  do  love  Him  ! 
He  knows  that  !  The  very  mourning  and  longing 
to  love  Him  proves  it.  But  we  want  more 
that,  and  so  does  our  Lord. 


OUR  I,O VE  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  147 

He  has  created  us  to  love.  We  have  a  sealed 
treasure  of  love,  which  either  remains  sealed,  and 
then  gradually  dries  up  and  wastes  away,  or  is  un- 
sealed and  poured  out,  and  yet  is  the  fuller  and 
not  the  emptier  for  the  outpouring.  The  more 
love  we  give,  the  more  we  have  to  give.  So  far 
it  is  only  natural.  But  when  the  Holy  Spirit 
reveals  the  love  of  Christ,  and  sheds  abroad  the 
love  of  God  in  our  hearts,  this  natural  love  is 
penetrated  with  a  new  principle,  as  it  discovers  a 
new  Object.  Everything  that  it  beholds  in  that 
Object  gives  it  new  depth  and  new  colors.  As  it 
sees  the  holiness,  the  beauty,  and  the  glory,  it 
takes  the  deep  hues  of  conscious  sinfulness,  un- 
worthiness,  and  nothingness.  As  it  sees  even  a 
glimpse  of  the  love  that  passeth  knowledge,  it 
takes  the  glow  of  wonder  and  gratitude.  And 
when  it  sees  that  love  drawing  close  to  its  deepest 
need  with  blood-purchased  pardon,  it  is  in- 
tensified and  stirred,  and  there  is  no  more  time 
for  weighing  and  measuring;  we  most  pour  it 
out,  all  there  is  of  it,  with  our  tears,  at  the  feet 
that  were  pierced  for  the  love  of  us. 

And  what  then  ?  Has  the  flow  grown  gradually 
slower  and  shallower?  Has  our  Lord  reason  to  say, 


148  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

"  My  brethren  have  dealt  deceitfully  as  a  brook, 
and  as  a  stream  of  brooks  they  pass  away?"  It 
is  humiliating  to  have  found  that  we  could  not 
keep  on  loving  Him  as  we  loved  in  that  remem- 
bered hour  when  "Thy  time  was  the  time  of 
love."  We  have  proved  that  we  were  not  able. 
Let  this  be  only  the  stepping-stone  to  proving  that 
He  is  able ! 

There  will  have  been  a  cause,  as  we  shall  see  if 
we  seek  it  honestly.  It  was  not  that  we  really 
poured  out  all  our  treasure,  and  so  it  naturally 
came  to  an  end.  We  let  it  be  secretly  diverted 
into  other  channels.  We  began  keeping  back  a 
little  part  of  the  price  for  something  else.  We 
looked  away  from,  instead  of  looking  away  unto, 
Jesus.  We  did  not  entrust  Him  with  our  love, 
and  ask  Him  to  keep  it  for  Himself. 

And  what  has  He  to  say  to  us  ?  Ah,  He  up- 
braideth  not.  Listen?  "Thus  saith  the  Lord, 
I  remember  thee,  the  kindness  of  thy  youth,  the 
love  of  thine  espousals."  Can  any  words  be  more 
tender,  more  touching,  to  you,  to  me  ?  Forget- 
ting all  the  sin,  all  the  backsliding,  all  the  cold- 
ness, casting  all  that  into  the  unreturning  depths 
of  the  sea,  He  says  He  remembers  that  hour  when 


OUR  I,OV£   KEPT   FOR  JESUS.  149 

we  first  said,  "  Take  my  love."  He  remembers 
it  now,  at  this  minute.  He  has  written  it  forever 
on  His  infinite  memory,  where  the  past  is  as  the 
present. 

His  own  love  is  unchangeable,  so  it  could  never 
be  His  wish  or  will  that  we  should  thus  drift  away 
from  Him.  Oh,  "Come  and  let  us  return  unto 
the  Lord ! ' '  But  is  there  any  hope  that,  thus 
returning,  our  flickering  love  may  be  kept  from 
again  failing  ?  Hear  what  He  says :  "And  I  will 
betroth  thee  unto  Me  forever."  And  again: 
"  Thou  shalt  abide  for  Me  many  days ;  so  will  I 
also  be  for  thee."  Shall  we  trust  His  word  or 
not  ?  Is  it  worthy  of  our  acceptance  or  not  ? 
Oh,  rest  on  this  word  of  the  King,  and  let  Him 
from  this  day  have  the  keeping  of  your  love,  and 
He  will  keep  it ! 

The  love  of  Christ  is  not  an  absorbing,  but  a 
radiating  love.  The  more  we  love  Him,  the  more 
ire  shall  most  certainly  love  others.  Some  have 
not  much  natural  power  of  loving,  but  the  love 
of  Christ  will  strengthen  it.  Some  have  had  the 
springs  of  love  dried  up  by  some  terrible  earth- 
quake. They  will  find  * '  fresh  springs ' '  in  Jesus, 


150  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

and  the  gentle  flow  will  be  purer  and  deeper  than 
the  old  torrent  could  ever  be.  Some  have  been 
satisfied  that  it  should  rush  in  a  narrow  channel, 
but  He  will  cause  it  to  overflow  into  many  another, 
and  widen  its  course  of  blessing.  Some  have 
spent  it  all  on  their  God-given  dear  ones.  Now 
He  is  come  whose  right  it  is  \  and  yet  in  the  full- 
est resumption  of  that  right,  He  is  so  gracious 
that  He  puts  back  an  even  larger  measure  of  the 
old  love  into  our  hand,  sanctified  with  His  own 
love,  and  energized  with  His  blessing,  and 
strengthened  with  His  new  commandment,  "  That 
ye  love  one  another,  as  I  have  loved  you." 

In  that  always  very  interesting  part,  called  a 
"Corner  for  Difficulties/'  of  that  always  very 
interesting  magazine,  Woman's  Work,  the  ques- 
tion has  been  discussed,  "  When  does  love  become 
idolatry?  Is  it  the  experience  of  Christians  that 
the  coming  in  of  a  new  object  of  affection  inter- 
feres with  entire  consecration  to  God  ?  "  I  should 
like  to  quote  the  many  excellent  answers  in  full, 
but  must  only  refer  my  readers  to  the  number  for 
March,  1879.  One  replies:  "  It  seems  to  me 
that  He  who  is  love  would  not  give  us  an  object 
for  our  love  unless  He  saw  that  our  hearts  needed 


OUR  I,OVE  KEPT  FOR  JKSUS.  15! 

expansion;  and  if  the  love  is  consecrated,  and 
the  friendship  takes  its  stand  in  Christ,  there  is 
no  need  for  the  fear  that  it  will  become  idolatry. 
Let  the  love  on  both  sides  be  given  to  God  to  keep, 
and  however  much  it  may  grow,  the  source  from 
which  it  springs  must  yet  be  greater."  Perhaps 
I  may  be  pardoned  for  giving,  at  the  same  writer's 
suggestion,  a  quotation  from  "  Under  the  Sur- 
face "  on  this  subject.  Eleanor  says  to  Beatrice: 

"  I  tremble  when  I  think 
How  much  I  love  him ;  but  I  turn  away 
From  thinking  of  it,  just  to  love  him  more  :— 
Indeed,  I  fear,  too  much." 

"  Dear  Eleanor, 

Do  you  love  him  as  much  as  Christ  loves  us  ? 
Let  your  lips  answer  me." 

"  Why  ask  me,  dear? 
Our  hearts  are  finite,  Christ  is  infinite." 

"  Then,  till  you  reach  the  standard  of  that  love, 
Let  neither  fears  nor  well-meant  warning  voice 
Distress  you  with  *  too  much. '     For  He  hath  said 
How  much — and  who  shall  dare  to  change  His  measure  ?— 
1  That  ye  should  love  AS  I  have  loved  you? 
O  sweet  command,  that  goes  so  far  beyond 
The  mightiest  impulse  of  the  tenderest  heart ! 
A  bare  permission  had  been  much ;  but  He 
Who  knows  our  yearnings  and  our  fearfulness 


I$2  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USB, 

Chose  graciously  to  bid  us  do  the  thing 

That  makes  our  earthly  happiness, 

A  limit  that  we  need  not  fear  to  pass, 

Because  we  cannot.     Oh,  the  breadth  and  length, 

And  depth  and  height  of  love  that  passeth  knowledge ; 

Yet  Jesus  said  *  As  I  have  loved  you.'  " 

"  O  Beatrice,  I  long  to  feel  the  sunshine 
That  this  should  bring;  but  there  are  other  words 
Which  fall  in  chill  eclipse.     'Tis  written,  '  Keep 
Yourselves  from  idols.'     How  shall  I  obey  ?  " 

"  Oh,  not  by  loving  less,  but  loving  more. 
It  is  not  that  we  love  our  precious  ones 
Too  much,  but  God  too  little.     As  the  lamp 
A  miner  bears  upon  his  shadowed  brow 
Is  only  dazzling  in  the  grimy  dark, 
And  has  no  glare  against  the  summer  sky, 
So,  set  the  tiny  torch  of  our  best  love 
In  the  great  sunshine  of  the  love  of  God, 
And,  though  full  fed  and  fanned,  it  casts  no  shade, 
And  dazzles  not,  o'erflowed  with  mightier  light." 

There  is  no  love  so  deep  and  wide  as  that 
which  is  kept  for  Jesus.  It  flows  both  fuller  and 
farther  when  it  flows  only  through  Him.  Then, 
too,  it  will  be  a  power  for  Him.  It  will  always 
be  unconsciously  working  for  Him,  In  drawing 
others  to  ourselves  by  it,  we  shall  be  necessarily 
drawing  them  nearer  to  the  fountain  of  our  love, 


OUR  I<OVS  KEPT:  FOR  JESUS.  153 

never  drawing  them  away  from  it.  It  is  the  great 
magnet  of  His  love  which  alone  can  draw  any 
heart  to  Him ;  but  when  our  own  are  thoroughly 
yielded  to  its  mighty  influence,  they  will  be  so 
magnetized  that  He  will  condescend  to  use  them 
in  this  way. 

Is  it  not  wonderful  to  think  that  the  Lord  Jesus 
will  not  only  accept  and  keep,  but  actually  use 
our  love  ? 

"  Of  Thine  own  have  we  given  Thee,"  for  we 
love  Him  because  He  first  loved  us. ' ' 

Set  apart  to  love  Him, 

And  His  love  to  know 
Not  to  waste  affection 
On  a  passing  show ; 
Called  to  give  Him  life  and  heart, 

Called  to  pour  the  hidden  treasure, 
That  none  other  claims  to  measure, 
Into  His  beloved  hand  !  thrice  blessed  "  set  apart !  '* 


154  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

OUR   SELVES    KEPT    FOR  JESUS. 

"  Keep  my  self,  that  I  may  be 
Ever,  only,  all  for  Thee." 

R  THEE!"  That  is  the  beginning  and 
the  end  of  the  whole  matter  of  consecra- 
tion. 

There  was  a  prelude  to  its  "  endless  song  " — a 
prelude  whose  theme  is  woven  into  every  follow- 
ing harmony  in  the  new  anthem  of  consecrated 
life :  "  The  Son  of  God  who  loved  me,  and  gave 
Himself/^r  me. ' '  Out  of  the  realized  "  for  me," 
grows  the  practical  "  for  Thee !  "  If  the  former 
is  a  living  root,  the  latter  will  be  its  living  fruit. 

"  For  Thee  /  "  This  makes  the  difference  be- 
tween forced  or  formal,  and  therefore  unreasona- 
ble service,  and  the  " reasonable  service,"  which 
is  the  beginning  of  the  perfect  service  where  they 
see  His  face.  This  makes  the  difference  between 
slave  work  and  free  work.  For  Thee,  my  Re- 
deemer ;  for  Thee,  who  hast  spoken  to  my  heart ;  for 
Thee,  who  hast  done  for  me — what?  Let  us  each 


OUR  SELVES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  15$ 

pause,  and  fill  up  that  blank  with  the  great  things 
the  Lord  hath  done  for  us.  For  Thee,  who  art  to 
me — what  ?  Fill  that  up  too,  before  Him  !  For 
Thee,  my  Saviour  Jesus,  my  Lord  and  my  God ! 
And  what  is  to  be  for  Him  ?  My  self.  We 
talk  sometimes  as  if,  whatever  else  could  be  sub- 
dued unto  Him,  self  could  never  be.  Did  St. 
Paul  forget  to  mention  this  important  exception 
to  the  "  all  things  "  in  Phil.  iii.  21  ?  David  said: 
"Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  all  that  is 
within  me,  bless  His  Holy  Name."  Did  he,  too, 
unaccountably  forget  to  mention  that  he  only 
meant  all  that  was  within  him,  except  self?  If 
not,  then  self  must  be  among  the  "all  things" 
which  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  able  to  subdue 
unto  Himself,  and  which  are  to  "  bless  His  Holy 
Name."  It  is  Self  which,  once  His  most  treach- 
erous foe,  is  now,  by  full  and  glad  surrender,  His 
own  soldier — coming  over  from  the  rebel  camp 
into  the  royal  army.  It  is  not  some  one  else, 
some  temporarily  possessing  spirit,  which  says 
within  us,  "Lord,  Thou  knowest  that  I  love 
Thee,"  but  our  true  and  very  self,  only  changed 
and  renewed  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
And  when  we  do  that  we  would  not,  we  know 


156  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

that  "it  is  no  more  /that  do  it,  but  sin  that 
dwelleth  in  me."  Our  true  self  is  the  new  self, 
taken  and  won  by  the  love  of  God,  and  kept  by 
the  power  of  God. 

Yes,  ' '  kept ! J '  There  is  the  promise  on  which 
we  ground  our  prayer ;  or,  rather,  one  of  the 
promises.  For,  search  and  look  for  your  own 
strengthening  and  comfort,  and  you  will  find  it 
repeated  in  every  part  of  the  Bible,  from  "  I  am 
with  thee  and  will  keep  thee,"  in  Genesis,  to  "  I 
will  also  keep  thee  from  the  hour  of  temptation/' 
in  Revelation. 

And  keptyfrr  Him  /  Why  should  it  be  thought 
a  thing  incredible  with  you,  when  it  is  only  the  ful- 
filling of  His  own  eternal  purpose  in  creating  us  ? 
"  This  people  have  I  formed  for  Myself .^  Not 
ultimately  only,  but  presently  and  continually; 
for  He  says,  "  Thou  shalt  abide  for  Me  ;"  and, 
"  He  that  remaineth,  even  he  shall  be  for  our 
God. ' '  Are  you  one  of  His  people  by  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ  ?  Then  see  what  you  are  to  Him. 
You,  personally  and  individually,  are  part  of  the 
Lord's  portion  (Deut.  xxxii.  9),  and  of  His 
inheritance  (i  Kings,  viii.  53,  and  Eph  i.  18). 
His  portion  and  inheritance  would  not  be  com- 


OUR  SEI/VES   KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  157 

plete  without  you ;  you  are  His  peculiar  treasure 
(Ex.  xix.  5);  "a  special  people"  (how  warm, 
and  loving,  and  natural  that  expression  is!)  "unto 
Himself  (Deut.  vii.  6).  Would  you  call  it 
" keeping, "  if  you  had  a  "special"  treasure,  a 
darling  little  child,  for  instance,  and  let  it  run 
wild  into  all  sorts  of  dangers  all  day  long,  some- 
times at  your  side,  and  sometimes  out  in  the 
street,  with  only  the  intention  of  fetching  it  safe 
home  at  night  ?  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  would 
know  better  and  do  better,  than  that,  how  much 
more  shall  our  Lord's  keeping  be  true,  and  ten- 
der, and  continual,  and  effectual,  when  He  de- 
clares us  to  be  His  peculiar  treasure,  purchased 
(see  i  Pet.  ii.  9,  margin)  for  Himself  at  such 
unknown  cost  ! 

He  will  keep  what  thus  He  sought, 
Safely  guard  the  dearly  bought ; 
Cherish  that  which  He  did  choose, 
Always  love  and  never  lose. 

I  know  what  some  of  us  are  thinking.  "  Yes, 
I  see  it  all  plainly  enough  in  theory,  but  in  prac- 
tice I  find  I  am  not  kept.  Self  goes  over  to  the 
other  camp  again  and  again.  It  is  not  all  for 
Jesus,  though  I  have  asked  and  wished  for  it  to  be 


158  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE, 

so."  Dear  friends,  the  "all  "must  be  sealed 
with  "  only."  Are  you  willing  to  be  "  only"  for 
Jesus?  You  have  not  given  "all"  to  Jesus 
while  you  are  not  quite  ready  to  be  "  only  "  for 
Him.  And  it  is  no  use  to  talk  about  "ever" 
while  we  have  not  settled  the  "  only"  and  the 
"all."  You  can  not  be  "  for  Him,"  in  the  full 
and  blessed  sense,  while  you  are  partly  "  for  " 
anything  or  any  one  else.  For  "  the  Lord  hath 
set  apart  him  that  is  godly  for  Himself."  You 
see,  the  "for  Himself"  hinges  upon  the  "set 
apart. ' '  There  is  no  consecration  without  separa- 
tion. If  you  are  mourning  over  want  of  realized 
consecration,  will  you  look  humbly  and  sincerely 
into  this  point?  "A  garden  enclosed  is  my 
sister,  my  spouse,"  saith  the  Heavenly  Bride- 
groom. 

Set  apart  for  Jesus  ! 

Is  not  this  enough  ? 
Though  the  desert  prospect 

Open  wild  and  rough  ? 
Set  apart  for  His  delight, 

Chosen  for  His  holy  pleasure 
Sealed  to  be  His  special  treasure  ! 
Could  we  choose  a  nobler  joy  ? — and  would  we  if 
we  might  ?  * 

*  Loyal  Responses,  p.  II. 


OUR  SEXVES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  1 59 

But  yielding,  by  His  grace  to  this  blessed  set- 
ting apart  for  Himself,  "  The  Lord  shall  establish 
thee  an  holy  people  unto  Himself,  as  He  hath 
sworn  unto  thee."  Can  there  be  a  stronger 
promise  ?  Just  obey  and  trust  His  word  now,  and 
yield  yourselves  now  unto  God,  "that  He  may 
establish  thee  to-day  for  a  people  unto  Himself/* 
Commit  the  keeping  of  your  souls  to  Him  in 
well-doing,  as  unto  a  faithful  Creator,  being  per- 
suaded that  He  is  ABLE  TO  KEEP  that  which  you 
commit  to  Him. 

Now,  Lord,  I  give  myself  to  Thee, 

I  would  be  wholly  Thine. 
As  Thou  hast  given  Thyself  to  me, 

And  Thou  art  wholly  mine ; 
O  take  me,  seal  me  for  Thine  own, 
Thine  altogether,  Thine  alone. 

Here  comes  in  once  more  that  immeasurably 
important  subject  of  our  influence.  For  it  is  not 
what  we  say  or  do,  so  much  as  what  we  are,  that 
influences  others.  We  have  heard  this,  and  very 
likely  repeated  it  again  and  again,  but  have  we 
seen  it  to  be  inevitably  linked  with  the  great 
question  of  this  chapter  ?  I  do  not  know  any- 


160  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTERS  USE. 

thing  which,  thoughtfully  considered,  makes  us 
realize  more  vividly  the  need  and  the  importance 
of  our  whole  selves  being  kept  for  Jesus.  Any 
part  not  wholly  committed,  and  not  wholly  kept, 
must  hinder  and  neutralize  the  real  influence  for 
Him  of  all  the  rest.  If  we  ourselves  are  kept  all 
for  Jesus,  then  our  influence  will  be  all  kept  for 
Him  too.  If  not,  then,  however  much  we  may 
wish  and  talk  and  try,  we  cannot  throw  our  full 
weight  into  the  right  scale.  And  just  in  so  far  as 
it  is  not  in  the  one  scale,  it  must  be  in  the  other ; 
weighing  against  the  little  which  we  have  tried  to 
put  in  the  right  one,  and  making  the  short  weight 
still  shorter. 

So  large  a  proportion  of  it  is  entirely  invol- 
untary, while  yet  the  responsibility  of  it  is  so 
enormous,  that  our  helplessness  comes  out  in  ex- 
ceptionally strong  relief,  while  our  past  debt  in 
this  matter  is  simply  incalculable.  Are  we  feeling 
this  a  little?  getting  just  a  glimpse,  down  the 
misty  defiles  of  memory,  of  the  neutral  influence, 
the  wasted  influence,  the  mistaken  influence,  the 
actually  wrong  influence  which  has  marked  the 
ineffaceable  although  untraceable  course  ?  And 
all  the  while  we  owed  Him  all  that  influence !  It 


OUR  SELVES  KEPT  FOR  JESUS.  l6l 

ought  to  Have  been  all  for  Him !  We  have  noth- 
ing to  say.  But  what  has  our  Lord  to  say  ?  "I 
forgave  thee  all  that  debt !  " 

Then,  after  that  forgiveness  which  must  come 
first,  there  comes  a  thought  of  great  comfort  in 
our  freshly  felt  helplessness,  rising  out  of  the  very 
thing  that  makes  us  realize  this  helplessness.  Just 
because  our  influence  is  to  such  a  great  extent 
involuntary  and  unconscious,  we  may  rest  assured 
that  if  we  ourselves  are  truly  kept  for  Jesus,  this 
will  be,  as  a  quite  natural  result,  kept  for  Him 
also.  It  can  not  be  otherwise,  for  as  is  the  foun- 
tain, so  will  be  the  flow ;  as  the  spring,  so  the 
action;  as  the  impulse,  so  the  communicated 
motion.  Thus  there  may  be,  and  in  simple  trust 
there  will  be,  a  quiet  rest  about  it,  a  relief  from 
all  sense  of  strain  and  effort,  a  fulfilling  of  the 
words,  "  For  he  that  is  entered  into  his  rest,  he 
also  hath  ceased  from  his  own  works,  as  God  did 
from  His. ' '  It  will  not  be  a  matter  of  trying  to 
have  good  influence,  but  just  of  having  it,  as 
naturally  and  constantly  as  the  magnetized  bar. 

Another  encouraging  thought  should  follow. 
Of  ourselves  we  may  have  but  little  weight,  no 
particular  talents  or  position  or  anything  else  to 


i62  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  uss. 

put  into  the  scale;  but  let  us  remember  that  again 
and  again  God  has  shown  that  the  influence  of  a 
very  average  life,  when  once  really  consecrated  to 
Him,  may  outweigh  that  of  almost  any  number 
of  merely  professing  Christians.  Such  lives  are 
like  Gideon's  three  hundred,  carrying  not  even 
the  ordinary  weapons  of  war,  but  only  trumpets 
and  lamps  and  empty  pitchers,  by  whom  the 
Lord  wrought  great  deliverance,  while  He  did 
not  use  the  others  at  all.  For  He  hath  chosen 
the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the 
things  which  are  mighty. 

Should  not  all  this  be  additional  motive  for 
desiring  that  our  whole  selves  should  be  taken  and 
kept? 

I  know  that  whatsoever  God  doeth,  it  shall  be 
forever.  Therefore  we  may  rejoicingly  say  "ever ' ' 
as  well  as  "only"  and  "all  for  Thee!  "  For 
the  Lord  is  our  Keeper,  and  He  is  the  Almighty 
and  the  Everlasting  God,  with  whom  is  no  vari- 
ableness, neither  shadow  of  turning.  He  will 
never  change  His  mind  about  keeping  us,  and  no 
man  is  able  to  pluck  us  out  of  His  hand.  Neither 
will  Christ  let  us  pluck  ourselves  out  of  His  hand, 


OUR  SEI,V3S  K3PT  FOR  JESUS.  103 

for  He  says,  "Thou  shalt  abide  for  Me  many 
days."  And  He  that  keepeth  us  will  not  slumber. 
Once  having  undertaken  His  vineyard,  He  will 
keep  it  night  and  day,  till  all  the  days  and  nights 
are  over,  and  we  know  the  full  meaning  of  the  sal- 
vation ready  to  be  revealed  in  the  last  time,  unto 
which  we  are  kept  by  His  power. 

And  then,  forever  for  Him  !  passing  from  the 
gracious  keeping  by  faith  for  this  little  while,  to 
the  glorious  keeping  in  His  presence  for  all 
eternity  !  Forever  fulfilling  the  object  for  which 
He  formed  us  and  chose  us,  we  showing  forth  His 
praise,  and  He  showing  the  exceeding  riches  of 
His  grace  in  His  kindness  towards  us  in  the  ages 
to  come  !  He  for  us,  and  we  for  Him  forever! 
Oh,  how  little  we  can  grasp  this  !  Yet  this  is  the 
fruition  of  being  "kept  for  Jesus !  " 

Set  apart  forever 

For  Himself  alone ! 
Now  we  see  our  calling 

Gloriously  shown. 
Owning,  with  no  secret  dread, 

This  our  holy  separation, 
Now  the  crown  of  consecration  * 
Of  the  Lord  our  God  shall  rest  upon  our  willing  head. 

*  Num.  vi.  7. 


1&4  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

CHRIST  FOR  US. 
"  So  will  I  also  be  for  Thee." — Hos.  iii.  3 

HPHE  typical  promise,  "Thou  shalt  abide  for 
1      Me  many  days,"  is  indeed  a  marvel  of  love. 
For  it  is  given  to  the  most  undeserving,  de- 
scribed under  the  strongest  possible  figure  of  utter 
worthlessness   and  treacherousness, — the  woman 
beloved,  yet  an  adulteress. 

The  depth  of  the  abyss  shows  the  length  of  the 
line  that  has  fathomed  it,  yet  only  the  length  of 
the  line  reveals  the  real  depth  of  the  abyss.  The 
sin  shows  the  love,  and  the  love  reveals  the  sin. 
The  Bible  has  few  words  more  touching,  though 
seldom  quoted,  than  those  just  preceding  this 
wonderful  promise :  u  The  love  of  the  Lord  toward 
the  children  of  Israel,  who  look  to  other  gods, 
and  love  flagons  of  wine."  Put  that  into  the 
personal  application  which  no  doubt  underlies  it, 


CHRIST  FOR  US.  165 

and  say,  "  The  love  of  the  Lord  toward  me,  who 
have  looked  away  from  Him,  with  wandering, 
faithless  eyes,  to  other  helps  and  hopes,  and  have 
loved  earthly  joys  and  sought  earthly  gratifica- 
tions,— the  love  of  the  Lord  toward  even  me  !  " 
And  then  hear  Him  saying  in  the  next  verse,  "  So 
I  bought  her  to  me ;  "  stooping  to  do  that  in  His 
unspeakable  condescension  of  love,  not  with  the 
typical  silver  and  barley,  but  with  the  precious 
blood  of  Christ.  Then,  having  thus  loved  us, 
and  rescued  us,  and  bought  us  with  a  price  indeed, 
He  says,  still  under  the  same  figure,  "  Thou  shalt 
abide  for  Me  many  days." 

This  is  both  a  command  and  a  pledge.  But 
the  very  pledge  implies  our  past  unfaithfulness,  and 
the  proved  need  of  even  our  own  part  being  un- 
dertaken by  the  ever-patient  Lord.  He  Himself 
has  to  guarantee  our  faithfulness,  because  there  is 
no  other  hope  of  our  continuing  faithful.  Well 
may  such  love  win  our  full  and  glad  surrender, 
and  such  a  promise  win  our  happy  and  confident 
trust! 

But  He  says  more.  He  says,  "  So  will  I  also 
be  for  thee  !  ' '  And  this  seems  an  even  greater 
marvel  of  love,  as  we  observe  how  He  meets  every 


1 66  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

detail  of  our  consecration  with  this  wonderful 
word.* 

i.  His  Life  "  for  thee  !  "  "The  Good  Shep- 
herd giveth  His  life  for  the  sheep."  Oh,  won- 
derful gift !  not  promised,  but  given ;  not  to 
friends,  but  to  enemies.  Given  without  condi- 
tion, without  reserve,  without  return.  Himself 
unknown  and  unloved,  His  gift  unsought  and 
unasked,  He  gave  His  life  for  thee ;  a  more  than 
royal  bounty — the  greatest  gift  that  Deity  could 
devise.  Oh,  grandeur  of  love!  "I  lay  down 
My  life  for  the  sheep  !  ' '  And  we  for  whom  He 
gave  it  have  held  back,  and  hesitated  to  give  our 
lives,  not  evenyfrr  Him  (He  has  not  asked  us  to 
do  that),  but  to  Him  !  But  that  is  past,  and  He 
has  tenderly  pardoned  the  unloving,  ungrateful 
reserve,  and  has  graciously  accepted  the  poor 
little  fleeting  breath  and  speck  of  dust  which  was 
all  we  had  to  offer.  And  now  His  precious  death 
and  His  glorious  life  are  all  "  for  thee." 


*  The  remainder  of  this  chapter  is  printed  in  a  little  penny 
book,  entitled,  /  also  for  Thee,  by  F.  R.  H.,  published  by 
Caswell,  Birmingham,  and  by  Nisbet  &  Co. 


CHRIST   FOB  US.  167 

2.  His  Eternity  "for  thee."  All  we  can  ask 
Him  to  take  are  days  and  moments — the  little 
span  given  us  as  it  is  given,  and  of  this  only  the 
present  in  deed  and  the  future  in  will.  As  for 
the  past,  in  so  far  as  we  did  not  give  it  to  Him, 
it  is  too  late ;  we  can  never  give  it  now !  But 
His  past  was  given  to  us,  though  ours  was  not 
given  to  Him.  Oh,  what  a  tremendous  debt 
does  this  show  us  ! 

Away  back  in  the  dim  depths  of  past  eternity, 
"or  ever  the  earth  and  the  world  were  made," 
His  divine  existence  in  the  bosom  of  His  Father 
was  all  "  for  thee,"  purposing  and  planning  "for 
thee,"  receiving  and  holding  the  promise  of 
eternal  life  "  for  thee." 

Then  the  thirty-three  years  among  sinners  on 
this  sinful  earth  :  do  we  think  enough  of  the 
slowly-wearing  days  and  nights,  the  heavy-footed 
hours,  the  never-hastening  minutes,  that  went  to 
make  up  those  thirty- three  years  of  trial  and 
humiliation  ?  We  all  know  how  slowly  time 
passes  when  suffering  and  sorrow  are  near,  and 
there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  our  Master  was 
exempted  from  this  part  of  our  infirmities. 

Then  His  present  is  "  for  thee."     Even  now 


i68  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

He  "  liveth  to  make  intercession  ;  "  even  now  He 
"  thinkethupon  me;  "  even  now  He  "knoweth," 
He  "careth,"  He  "loveth." 

Then,  only  to  think  that  His  whole  eternity 
will  be  "  for  thee  !  "  Millions  of  ages  of  unfo Id- 
ings  of  all  His  love,  and  of  ever-new  declarings 
of  His  Father's  name  to  His  brethren.  Think  of 
it !  and  can  we  ever  hesitate  to  give  all  our  poor 
little  hours  to  His  service  ? 

3.  His  Hands  "  for  thee."  Literal  hands, 
literally  pierced,  when  the  whole  weight  of  His 
quivering  frame  hung  from  their  torn  muscles  and 
bared  nerves ;  literally  uplifted  in  parting  bless- 
ing. Consecrated,  priestly  hands ;  ' ( filled  ' ' 
hands  (Ex.  xxviii.  41,  xxix.  9,  etc.,  margin) — 
filled  once  with  His  great  offering,  and  now  with 
gifts  and  blessings  "for  thee.  Tender  hands, 
touching  and  healing,  lifting  and  leading  with 
gentlest  care.  Strong  hands,  upholding  and 
defending.  Open  hands,  filling  with  good  and  sat- 
isfying desire  (Ps.  civ.  28,  and  cxlv.  16).  Faithful 
hands,  restraining  and  sustaining.  *  His  left 
hand  is  under  my  head  and  His  right  hand  doth 
embrace  Me." 


CHRIST  FOR  US.  169 

4.  His  Feet  "  for  thee."     They  were  weary 
very   often,  they   were   wounded   and   bleeding 
once.      They  made  clear  footprints  as  He  went 
about  doing  good,  and  as  He  went  up  to  Jeru- 
salem to  suffer;  and  these  "blessed  steps  of  His 
most  holy  life/'  both  as  substitution  and  example, 
were  ((  for  thee. '  *    Our  place  of  waiting  and  learn- 
ing, of  resting  and  loving,  is  at  His  feet.      And 
still  those  "blessed  feet"  are  and  shall  be  "for 
thee,"  until  He  comes  again  to  receive  us  unto 
Himself,  until  and  when  the  word  is   fulfilled, 
"  They  shall  walk  with  Me  in  white." 

5.  His  Voice  "  for  thee."     The  "  Voice  of  my 
beloved  that  knocketh,  saying,  Open  to  me,  my 
sister,  my  love ; ' '  the  Voice  that  His  sheep  "hear  " 
and  "know,"  and  that  calls  out  the  fervent  re- 
sponse, "  Master,  say  on  !  "     This  is  not  all.     It 
was  the  literal  voice  of  the  Lord   Jesus  which 
uttered  that  one  echoless  cry  of  desolation   on 
the  Cross  "for  thee/'  and  it  will  be  His  own 
literal  voice  which  will  say,  "  Come,  ye  blessed  !  ' ' 
to  thee.     And  that  same  tender  and  "glorious 
Voice0    has   literally   sung   and  will   sing  "for 
thee."     I  think  He  consecrated  song  for  us  and 


170  KEPT  FOR  THE;  MASTER'S  USE. 

made  it  a  sweet  and  sacred  thing  forever,  when 
He  Himself  "sang an  hymn,"  the  very  last  thing 
before  He  went  forth  to  consecrate  suffering  for 
us.  That  was  not  His  last  song.  "  The  Lord 
thy  God  ....  will  joy  over  thee  with  singing/' 
And  the  time  is  coming  when  He  will  not 
only  sing  "  for  thee  "  or  "  over  thee,"  but  with 
thee.  He  says  He  will !  "  In  the  midst  of  the 
church  will  I  sing  praise  unto  Thee. "  Now  what 
a  magnificent  glimpse  of  joy  this  is!  "Jesus 
Himself  leading  the  praises  of  His  brethren/'  * 
and  we  ourselves  singing,  not  merely  in  such  a 
chorus,  but  with  such  a  leader  !  If  "  singing  for 
Jesus  "  is  such  delight  here,  what  will  this  "sing- 
ing with  Jesus  "  be  ?  Surely  song  may  well  be  a 
holy  thing  to  us  henceforth. 

6.  His  Lips  "  for  thee."  Perhaps  there  is  no 
part  of  our  consecration  which  it  is  so  difficult 
practically  to  realize,  and  in  which  it  is  therefore 
so  needful  to  recollect — "  I  also  for  thee/'  It  is 
often  helpful  to  read  straight  through  one  or 
more  of  the  Gospels  with  a  special  thought  on 

*  See  A.  Newton  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  ch.  ii., 
ver.  12. 


CHRIST  FOR  US.  171 

our  mind,  and  see  how  much  bears  upon  it. 
When  we  read  one  through  with  this  thought, — • 
"  His  lips  for  me  !  "—wondering,  verse  by  verse, 
at  the  grace  which  was  poured  into  them,  and  the 
gracious  words  which  fell  from  them,  wondering 
more  and  more  at  the  cumulative  force  and  infi- 
nite wealth  of  tenderness  and  power  and  wisdom 
and  love  flowing  from  them,  we  cannot  but  de- 
sire that  our  lips  and  all  the  fruit  of  them  should 
be  wholly  for  Him.  "  For  t/iee"  they  were 
opened  in  blessing  ;  "for  thee ' '  they  were  closed 
when  He  was  led  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter.  And 
whether  teaching,  warning,  counsel,  comfort,  or 
encouragement,  commandments  in  whose  keeping 
there  is  a  great  reward,  or  promises  which  exceed 
all  we  ask  or  think — all  the  precious  fruit  of  His 
lips  is  "for  thee,"  really  and  truly  meant  "for 
thee." 

7 .  His  Wealth  ' '  for  thee. "  "  Though  He  was 
rich  yet  for  your  sakes  He  became  poor,  that  ye 
through  His  poverty  might  be  made  rich."  Yes, 
"through  his  poverty"  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  Christ  are  "for  thee."  Sevenfold  riches  are 
mentioned,  and  these  are  no  unminted  treasure 
or  sealed  reserve,  but  all  ready  coined  for  our  use, 


IJ2  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

and  stamped  with  His  own  image  and  superscrip- 
tion, and  poured  freely  into  the  hand  of  faith. 
The  mere  list  is  wonderful.  "Riches  of  good- 
ness," "riches  of  forbearance  and  long-suffer- 
ing," "riches  both  of  wisdom  and  knowledge," 
' '  riches  of  mercy, "  "  exceeding  riches  of  grace, '  ' 
and  ' '  riches  of  glory. ' '  And  His  own  Word  says, 
"All  are  yours  !  "  Glance  on  in  faith,  and  think 
of  eternity  flowing  on  and  on  beyond  the  mightiest 
sweep  of  imagination,  and  realize  that  all  "  His 
riches  in  glory,"  and  "  the  riches  of  His  glory  " 
are  and  shall  be  "  for  thee  !  "  In  view  of  this, 
shall  we  care  to  reserve  anything  that  rust  doth 
corrupt  for  ourselves  ? 

8.  His  "treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge  " 
for  thee.  First,  used  for  our  behalf  and  benefit. 
Why  did  He  expend  such  immeasurable  might  of 
mind  upon  a  world  which  is  to  be  burnt  up,  but 
that  He  would  fit  it  perfectly  to  be,  not  the 
home,  but  the  school  of  His  children  ?  The  in- 
finity of  His  skill  is  such  that  the  most  powerful 
intellects  find  a  lifetime  too  short  to  penetrate  a 
little  way  into  a  few  secrets  of  some  one  small 
department  of  His  working.  If  we  turn  to  Provi- 


CHRIST  FOR  US.  173 

dence,  it  is  quite  enough  to  take  only  one's  own 
life,  and  look  at  it  microscopically  and  telescopi- 
cally,  and  marvel  at  the  treasures  of  wisdom  lav- 
ished upon  its  details,  ordering  and  shaping  and 
fitting  the  tiny  confused  bits  into  the  true  mosaic 
which  He  means  it  to  be.  Many  a  little  thing  in 
our  lives  reveals  the  same  Mind  which,  according 
to  a  well  known  and  very  beautiful  illustration, 
adjusted  a  perfect  proportion  in  the  delicate 
hinges  of  the  snowdrop  and  the  droop  of  its  bell, 
with  the  mass  of  the  globe  and  the  force  of  gravi- 
tation. How  kind  we  think  it  if  a  very  talented 
friend  spends  a  little  of  his  thought  and  power  of 
mind  in  teaching  us  or  planning  for  us  !  Have 
we  been  grateful  for  the  infinite  thought  and  wis- 
dom which  our  Lord  has  expended  upon  us  and 
our  creation,  preservation  and  redemption  ? 

Secondly,  to  be  shared  with  us.  He  says,  "  All 
that  I  have  is  thine."  He  holds  nothing  back, 
reserves  nothing  from  His  dear  children,  and 
what  we  cannot  receive  now  He  is  keeping  for  us. 
He  gives  us  "hidden  riches  of  secret  places'" 
now,  but  by  and  by  He  will  give  us  more,  and 
the  glorified  intellect  will  be  filled  continually 
out  of  His  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge. 


174  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

But  the  sanctified  intellect  will  be,  must  be,  used 
for  Him,  and  only  for  Him,  now ! 

9.  His  Will  "  for  thee."  Think  first  of  the 
infinite  might  of  that  will :  the  first  great  law  and 
the  first  great  force  of  the  universe,  from  which 
alone  every  other  law  and  every  other  force  has 
sprung,  and  to  which  all  are  subordinate.  "He 
worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  His  own 
will."  "  He  doeth  according  to  His  will  in 
the  army  of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants 
of  the  earth."  Then  think  of  the  infinite  mys- 
teries of  that  will.  For  ages  and  generations  the 
hosts  of  heaven  have  wonderingly  watched  its 
vouchsafed  un veilings  and  its  sublime  develop- 
ments, and  still  they  are  waiting,  watching,  and 
wondering. 

Creation  and  Providence  are  but  the  whisper 
of  its  power,  but  Redemption  is  its  music,  and 
praise  is  the  echo  which  shall  yet  fill  His  temple. 
The  whisper  and  the  music,  yes,  and  "  the  thunder 
of  His  power,"  are  all  "  for  thee."  For  what  is 
"the  good  pleasure  of  His  will?1'  (Eph.  i.  5). 
Oh,  what  a  grand  list  of  blessings  purposed,  pro- 
vided, purchased,  and  possessed,  all  flowing  to  us 


CHRIST   FOR   US-  175 

out  of  it !  And  nothing  but  blessings,  nothing 
but  privileges,  which  we  never  should  have  im- 
agined, and  which,  even  when  revealed,  we  are 
"slow  of  heart  to  believe;"  nothing  but  what 
should  even  now  fill  us  c<  with  joy  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory!" 

Think  of  this  will  as  always  and  altogether  on 
our  side — always  working  for  us,  and  in  us,  and 
with  us,  if  we  will  only  let  it ;  think  of  it  as  always 
and  only  synonymous  with  infinitely  wise  and 
almighty  love ;  think  of  it  as  undertaking  all  for 
us,  from  the  great  work  of  our  eternal  salvation 
down  to  the  momentary  details  of  guidance  and 
supply,  and  do  we  not  feel  utter  shame  and  self- 
abhorrence  at  ever  having  hesitated  for  an  instant 
to  give  up  our  tiny,  feeble,  blind  will  to  be — not 
crushed,  not  even  bent,  but  blent  with  His  glorious 
and  perfect  Will  ? 

10.  His  Heart  "for  thee."     "  Behold  .   ..  ... 

He  is  mighty  ....  in  heart,"  said  Job  (Job 

xxxvi.  5,  margin).  And  this  mighty  and  tender 
heart  is  "  for  thee  !  "  If  He  had  only  stretched 
forth  His  hand  to  save  us  from  bare  destruction, 
and  said,  "  My  hand  for  thee! ''  how  could  we 


176  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

have  praised  Him  enough  ?  But  what  shall  we 
say  of  the  unspeakably  marvellous  condescension 
which  says,  "Thou  hast  ravished  (margin,  taken 
away)  my  heart,  my  sister,  my  spouse  !  "  The 
very  fountain  of  His  divine  life,  and  light,  and 
love,  the  very  centre  of  His  being,  is  given  to  His 
beloved  ones,  who  are  not  only  "set  as  a  seal 
upon  His  heart/'  but  taken  into  His  heart,  so  that 
our  life  is  hid  there,  and  we  dwell  there  in  the 
very  centre  of  all  safety,  and  power,  and  love,  and 
glory.  What  will  be  the  revelation  of  "that 
day,"  when  the  Lord  Jesus  promises,  "Ye  shall 
know  that  I  am  in  My  Father,  and  ye  in  M*  ?  ' ' 
For  He  implies  that  we  do  not  yet  know  it,  and 
that  our  present  knowledge  of  this  dwelling  in 
Him  is  not  knowledge  at  all  compared  with  what 
He  is  going  to  show  us  about  it. 

Now  shall  we,  can  we,  reserve  any  corner  of 
our  hearts  from  Him  ? 

ii.  His  Love  "  for  thee."  Not  a  passive,  pos- 
sible love,  but  outflowing,  yes  outpouring  of  the 
real,  glowing,  personal  love  of  His  mighty  and 
tender  heart.  Love,  not  as  an  attribute,  a  quality, 
a  latent  force,  but  an  acting,  moving,  reaching, 


CHRIST  FOR  US.  177 

touching  and  grasping  power.  Love,  not  a  cold, 
beautiful,  far-off  star,  but  a  sunshine  that  comes 
and  enfolds  us,  making  us  warm  and  glad,  and 
strong,  and  bright,  and  fruitful. 

His  love  !  What  manner  of  love  is  it  ?  What 
should  be  quoted  to  prove  or  describe  it  ?  First, 
the  whole  Bible  with  its  mysteries  and  marvels  of 
redemption,  then  the  whole  book  of  Providence 
and  the  whole  volume  of  creation.  Then  add 
to  these  the  unknown  records  of  eternity  past  and 
the  unknown  glories  of  eternity  to  come,  and  then 
let  the  immeasurable  quotation  be  sung  by  "  angels 
and  archangels  and  all  the  company  of  heaven/' 
with  all  the  harps  of  God,  and  still  that  love  will 
be  untold,  still  it  will  be  "  the  love  of  Christ 
that  passeth  knowledge."  But  it  is  "  for  thee." 

12.  Himself  "for  thee."  "Christ  also  hath 
loved  us,  and  given  Himself  for  us."  "The 
Son  of  God  .  .  .  loved  me  and  gave  Himself 
for  me."  Yes,  Himself!  What  is  the  Bride's 
true  and  central  treasure?  What  calls  forth 
the  deepest,  brightest,  sweetest  thrill  of  love 
and  praise  ?  Not  the  Bridegroom's  priceless 
gifts,  not  the  robe  of  His  resplendent  righteous- 

12 


178  KEPT  FOR  THE  MASTER'S  USE. 

ness,  not  the  dowry  of  unsearchable  riches,  not 
the  magnificence  of  the  palace  home  to  which 
He  is  bringing  her,  not  the  glory  which  she 
shall  share  with  Him,  but  HIMSELF  !  Jesus 
Christ,  "who  His  own  self  bare  our  sins  in 
His  own  body  on  the  tree  ;  "  "  this  same  Jesus," 
"whom  having  not  seen,  ye  love;  "  the  Son  of 
God,  and  the  Man  of  Sorrows;  my  Saviour, 
my  Friend,  my  Master,  my  King,  my  Priest,  my 
Lord  and  my  God.  HE  says,  "/also  for  thee  !  " 
What  an  "//"  What  power  and  sweetness  we 
feel  in  it,  so  different  from  any  human  "/,"  for 
all  His  Godhead  and  all  His  manhood  are  con- 
centrated in  it,  and  all  "  for  thee  !  " 

And  not  only  "all,"  but  "ever"  for  thee.  His 
unchangeableness  is  the  seal  upon  every  attribute  ; 
He  will  be  "  this  same  Jesus  "  forever.  How  can 
mortal  mind  estimate  this  enormous  promise? 
How  can  mortal  heart  conceive  what  is  enfolded 
in  these  words,  "  I  also  for  thee  ?  " 

One  glimpse  of  its  fulness  and  glory,  and  we 
feel  that  henceforth  it  must  be,  shall  be,  and  by 
His  grace  will  be  our  true-hearted,  whole-hearted 
cry — 

Take  my  self t  and  I  will  be 

Evtrt  ONLY,  ALL  for  Thee  I 


MY  KING 

OR 

Daily  Thoughts  for  the  King's  Children, 


CONTENTS. 


MY   KING. 

DAY  PAGE 

1.  THE  SOURCE  OF  THE  KINGSHIP n 

2.  THE  PROMISE  OF  THE  KING 13 

3.  ALLEGIANCE  TO  THE  KING 16 

4.  DECISION  FOR  THE  KING 19 

5.  THE  FIRST  TO  MEET  THE  KING 21 

6.  THE  CONDESCENSION  OF  THE  KING  ...  24 
/.  THE  INDWELLING  OF  THE  KING 27 

8.  FULL  SATISFACTION  IN  THE  KING  ....  29 

9.  THE  SORROW  OF  THE  KING 33 

10.  GOING  FORTH  WITH  THE  KlNG 36 

11.  THE  SMITING  OF  THE  KING 38 

12.  THE  KINSHIP  OF  THE  KING 41 

13.  THE  DESIRE  OF  THE  KING 44 

14.  THE  SCEPTRE  OF  THE  KING 47 


6  CONTENTS. 

DAY  PAGE 

15.  CLEAVING  TO  THE  KING 50 

16.  THE  JOY  OF  THE  KING 53 

17.  REST  ON  THE  WORD  OF  THE  KING    .   ,   .  55 

18.  THE  BUSINESS  OF  THE  KING 58 

19.  THE  READINESS  OF  THE  KING'S  SERVANTS  61 

20.  THE  FRIENDSHIP  OF  THE  KING 65 

21.  THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  KING'S  COUNTENANCE  67 

22.  THE  TENDERNESS  OF  THE  KING 70 

23.  THE  TOKEN  OF  THE  KING'S  GRACE  ...  73 

24.  THE  OMNISCIENCE  OF  THE  KING 76 

25.  THE  POWER  OF  THE  KING'S  WORD    ...  79 

26.  THE  NAME  OF  THE  KING 82 

27.  WORKING  WITH  THE  KING 85 

28.  THE  RECOMPENSE  OF  THE  KING  .....  87 

29.  THE  SALVATION  OF  THE  KING 90 

30.  GOOD  TIDINGS  TO  THE  KING'S  HOUSEHOLD    93 

31.  THE  PROSPERITY  OF  THE  KING 96 


MY    KING. 


FIRST  DAY. 

The  Source  of  the  Kingship. 

1  Because  the  Lord  hath  loved  His  people,  He  hath  made 
thee  king  over  them/ — 2  CITRON,  ii.  u,  ix0  8. 

/CHRIST  said  to  His  Father,  <  Thou  lovedst  me 
Vy  before  the  foundation  of  the  world.'  l  At 
that  mysterious  date,  not  of  time,  but  of  ever- 
lasting love,  God  '  chose  us  in  Him.'2  Be. ore 
the  world  began,  God,  that  cannot  lie,3  gave  ihe 
promise  of  eternal  life  to  Him  for  us,  and  made 
with  Him  for  us  '  a  covenant  ordered  in  ail 
things,  and  sure.'  4  The  leading  provisions  of 
that  covenant  were,  a  Lamb  for  our  atonement, 
and  a  King  for  our  government — a  dying  and  a 
living  Saviour.  This  God  the  Father  did  for  us, 
and  His  own  divine  interest  is  strongly  indicated 
in  the  typical  words,  *  God  will  provide  Himself 

1  John  xvii.  24.  2  Eph.  i.  4.  s  Titus  i.  a. 

*  2  Sam.  xxiii.  5. 

II 


12  MY   KING. 

a  Lamb,'1  and  'I  have  provided  me  a  King.'2 
So  the  Source  of  the  Kingship  of  Christ  is  God 
Himself,  in  the  eternal  counsels  of  His  love.  It 
is  one  of  the  grand  '  thoughts  of  God.' 3 

Having  provided,  He  appointed  and  anointed 
His  King :  '  Yet  have  I  set  (margin,  anointed) 
my  King  upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion.'4  What  a 
marvellous  meeting-place  is  thus  found  in  the 
Kingship  of  Jesus  for  God's  heart  and  ours ! 
lie  says  in  His  majestic  sovereignty,  '  I  have  set 
my  King ;  '  and  we  say  in  lowly  and  loving 
loyalty,  '  Thou  art  my  King. ' 5 

God  has  appointed  His  King  '  to  be  ruler  over 
Israel  and  over  Judah.'  Thus  He  gives  His  chil- 
dren a  great  bond  of  union.  For  '  one  King  shall 
be  King  to  them  all,' 6  and  He  shall  'gather  together 
in  one  the  children  of  God  which  were  scattered 
abroad/7  '  Satan  scatters,  but  Jesus  gathers/ 
Shall  we  then  let  the  enemy  have  his  way,  and 
induce  us  to  keep  apart  and  aloof  from  those  over 
whom  our  beloved  King  reigns  also  ?  Let  us  try 
this  day  to  recollect  this,  and  make  it  practical  in 
all  our  contact  with  His  other  subjects. 

1  Gen.  xxii.  8.      2  x  Sam.  xvi.  i.      3  ps>  cxxxix.  17.     *  Ps.  ii.  6. 
6  Ps.  xiiv.  4.  6  Ezek.  xxxvii.  22.  7  John  xi.  52. 


THE:  PROMISE:  OF  THE;  KING.  13 

Why  has  God  made  Jesus  King  ?  Who  would 
have  guessed  the  right  answer  ?  'Because  the 
Lord  loved  His  people.'  So  the  very  thought  of 
the  Kingship  of  Christ  sprang  from  the  everlast- 
ing love  of  God  to  His  people.1  Bring  that 
wonderful  statement  down  to  personal  reality, — - 
'  His  people/  that  is,  you  and  me.  God  made 
Jesus  King  over  you,  because  He  loved  you,  and 
that  with  nothing  less  than  the  love  wherewith 
He  loved  Him.2  Which  is  the  more  wonderful — 
the  love  that  devised  such  a  gift,  or  the  gift  that 
was  devised  by  such  love  !  Oh,  to  realize  the  glor- 
ious value  of  it !  May  we,  who  by  His  grace  know 
something  of  God's  gift  of  His  Son  as  our 
Saviour,  learn  day  by  day  more  of  the  magnificent 
preciousness  of  His  gift  of  His  Anointed  One  as 
our  King ! 


SECOND  DAY. 
The  Promise  of  the  King. 

'  I  will  be  thy  King,' — Hos.  xiii.  lo. 

HE  knows  our  need  of  a  king.     He  knows  the 
hopeless  anarchy,  not  only  of  a  world,  but  of  a 

i  Jer.  xxxi.  3.  *  John  xvii.  26. 


14  MY  KING. 

heart,  '  without  a  king/  l  Is  there  a  more  deso- 
late cry  than  <  We  have  no  king  ?' 2 — none  to 
reverence  and  love,  none  to  obey,  none  to  guide 
and  protect  us  and  rule  over  us,  none  to  keep  us 
in  that  truest  freedom  of  whole-hearted  Ioyalty0 
Have  we  not  felt  that  we  really  want  a  strong 
hand  over  our  hearts  ?  that  having  our  own  way 
is  not  so  good  as  another's  way,  if  only  that 
other  is  one  to  whom  our  hearty  and  entire  con- 
fidence and  allegiance  can  be  and  are  given? 
Has  there  not  been  an  echo  in  our  souls  of  the 
old  cry,  '  Give  me  a  king  ?' — a  cry  that  nothing 
can  still  but  this  Divine  promise,  '/  will  be  thy 
king!'3 

But  the  promise  has  been  given ;  and  now,  if 
the  old  desolate  wail  of  a  kingless  heart  comes  up 
in  an  hour  of  faithless  forgetfulness,  His  word 
comes  like  a  royal  clarion,  '  Now,  why  dost  thou 
cry  out  aloud  ?  Is  there  no  king  in  thee  ?' 4 
And  then  the  King's  gracious  assurance  falls  with 
hushing  power,  '  I  will  be  thy  King. ' 

How  glad  we  are  that  He  Himself  is  our  King  ! 
For  we  are  so  sure  that  He  is  able  even  to  subdue 

l  Hos.  iii.  4.  a  Hos.  x.  3.  a  Hot.  xiii.  10. 

*  Mic.  iv.  9. 


THE  PROMISE  OF  THE  KING.  15 

all  things  unto  Himself1  in  this  inner  kingdom, 
which  we  cannot  govern  at  all.  We  are  so  glad 
to  take  Him  at  His  word,  and  give  up  the  govern- 
ment into  His  hands,  asking  Him  to  be  our  King 
in  very  deed,  and  to  set  up  His  throne  of  peace 
in  the  long  disturbed  and  divided  citadel,2  pray- 
ing that  He  would  bring  every  thought  into 
captivity  to  His  gentle  obedience.3 

We  have  had  enough  of  revolutions  and  revolts, 
of  tyrants  and  traitors,  of  lawlessness  and  of 
self-framed  codes  Other  lords  (and  oh,  how 
many !)  have  had  dominion  over  us.4  He  has 
permitted  us  to  be  their  servants,  that  now,  by 
blessed  and  restful  contrast,  we  know  His  service.5 
Now  we  only  want  ' another  King,  one  Jesus.'6 
He  has  made  us  willing  in  the  day  of  His  power,7 
and  that  was  the  first  act  of  His  reign,  and  the 
token  that  '  of  the  increase  of  His  government 
and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end '  8  in  our 
hearts. 

Lord,  be  Thou  my  King  this  day  !  Reign  more 
absolutely  in  me  than  ever  before.  Let  the 
increase  of  Thy  government  be  continual  and 

1  Phil.  iii.  21.  2  Rom.  vii.  19.  8  2  Cor.  x.  5. 

«  Isa.  xxvi.  13.  *  2  Chron.  xii.  8.  «  Acts  xvii.  7. 

*  Ps.  ex.  3.  8  Isa.  ix.  7. 


!6  MY  KING. 

mighty  in  me,  so  that  Thy  name  may  be  glorified 
in  me  now  and  forever.1 

Reign  over  me,  Lord  Jesus ! 

Oh,  make  my  heart  Thy  throne! 
It  shall  be  thine  forever, 

It  shall  be  Thine  alone ! 


THIRD    DAY. 
Allegiance  to  the  King.     , 
1  Thou  art  my  King.' — Ps.  xliv.  4. 

FIRST,  can  I  say  it? 

Is  Jesus  in  very  deed  and  truth  '  my  King '  ? 
Where  is  the  proof  of  it  ?  Am  I  living  in  His 
kingdom  of  '  righteousness  and  peace  and  joy  in 
the  Holy  Ghost '  now  ?2  Am  I  speaking  the  lan- 
guage of  that  kingdom  ?  Am  I  following  '  the 
customs  of  the  people  ' 3  which  are  not  His  peo- 
ple ?  or  do  I  '  diligently  learn  the  ways  of  His 
people'?4  Am  I  practically  living  under  the 
rule  of  His  laws  ?  Have  I  done  heart  homage  to 
Him?  Am  I  bravely  and  honestly  upholding 
His  cause,  because  it  is  His,  not  merely  because 
those  around  me  do  so  ?  Is  my  allegiance  mak- 
ing any  practical  difference  to  my  life  to-day  ? 

'  2  Thes.  i.  is         *  Rom.  xiv.  17.        »  Jer.  x.  3.        *  Jer.  xii.  16 


TO  THE  KING.  '7 

Next,  ought  I  to  say  it? 

What !  any  question  about  that  ?  The  King, 
who  came  Himself  to  purchase  me  from  my  ty- 
rant and  His  foe ; l  the  King,  who  laid  aside 
His  crown  and  His  royal  robes,  and  left  His 
kingly  palace,  and  came  down  Himself  to  save  a 
rebel ; 2  the  King,  who,  though  He  was  rich, 
yet  for  my  sake  became  poor,  that  I  i  through 
His  poverty  might  be  rich,'  3 — ought  I  to  ac- 
knowledge Him  ?  is  it  a  question  of  '  ought  I  ?  ' 
God  has  'called  me  unto  His  Kingdom  and 
glory ; ' 4  He  '  hath  translated  me  unto  the  king- 
dom of  the  Son  of  His  love ; ' 5  and  shall  the 
loyal  words  falter  or  fail  from  my  lips,  '  Thou 
art  my  King  '  ? 

Lastly,  do  I  say  it  ? 

God  has  said  to  me,  *  He  is  thy  Lord,  and 
worship  thou  Him/6  Do  my  lips  say,  '  My 
Lord  and  My  God'?7  Does  my  life  say, 
'  Christ  Jesus,  my  Lord/  8— definitely  and  per- 
sonally, '  my  Lord '  ?  Can  I  share  in  His  last 
sweet  commendation  to  His  disciples,  the  more 

*  Acts  xx.  28.  8  Phil.  ii.  7.  »  2  Cor.  viii.  9. 

*  i  Thess.  ii.  12.  8  Col.  i.  13.  «  Ps.  xlv.  n.    .  „ 

^  John  xx.  28.  •  Phil.  Hi.  8. 

2 


1 8  MY  KING. 

precious  because  of  its  divine  dignity,  '  Ye  call 
me  Master  and  Lord,  and  ye  say  well,  for  so  I 
am '  ? '  Have  I  said,  <  Thou  art  my  King '  2  to 
Jesus  Himself,  from  the  depth  of  my  own  heart, 
in  unreserved  and  unfeigned  submission  to  His 
sceptre  ?  Am  I  ashamed  or  afraid  to  confess  my 
allegiance  in  plain  English  among  His  friends  or 
before  His  foes  ? 3  Is  the  seal  upon  my  brow  so 
unmistakable  that  always  and  everywhere  I  am 
known  to  be  His  subject  ?  Is  '  Thou  art  my 
King,  *  blazoned,  as  it  ought  to  be,  in  shining 
letters  on  the  whole  scroll  of  my  life,  so  that  it 
may  be  '  known  and  read  of  all  men  ?  ' 5 

Answer  Thou  for  me,  O  my  King  !  '  Search 
me  and  try  me,'  6  and  show  me  the  true  state  of 
my  case,  and  then  for  Thine  own  sake  pardon 
all  my  past  disloyalty,  and  make  me  by  Thy 
mighty  grace  from  this  moment  totally  loyal! 
For  'Thou  art  my  King.' 7 

*  John  xiii.  13.  2  ps.  bcxxi.  15,  margin. 

8  Matt.  x.  32.  4  Acts  iv.  13. 

6  2  Cor.  iii.  2. 

3  Ps.  xxxviii.  15,  P.  B.  V. ;  ib.  cxxxix.  23. 

;  Fs.  xxv,  ii. 


DECISION   FOR  THE  KING.  19 

FOURTH  DAY. 

Decision  for  the  King. 

'  Ye  fought  for  David  in  times  past  to  be  king  over  you. 
Now,  then,  do  it.'— 2  SAM.  iii.  17,  18. 

'  IN  time  past,  when  Saul  was  king  over  us,thou 
wast  he  that  leddest  out  and  broughtest  in  Israel. ' l 
Chosen,  anointed,  given  by  God,  continually 
leading  and  caring  for  us,  yet  not  accepted,  not 
crowned,  not  enthroned  by  us;2  our  real  allegi- 
ance, our  actual  service,  given  to  another  ! 3  Self 
has  been  our  Saul,  our  central  tyranny;  and 
many  have  been  its  officers  domineering  in  every 
department.4 

f  Ye  sought  for  David  in  times  past  to  be  king 
over  you.'  Well  we  might,  for  the  bondage  of 
any  other  lord  was  daily  harder.5  Well  we  might, 
with  even  a  dim  glimpse  of  the  grace  and  glory 
of  the  King  who  waited  for  our  homage.  We 
sought,  first,  only  for  something — we  hardly  knew 
whai — restlessly  and  vaguely ;  then  for  some  One, 
who  was  not  merely  *  the  Desire  of  all  nations,1 

1  i  Sam.  v.  2.  2  Ps.  Ixxxix.  19,  20;  Isa.  Iv.  4. 

a  Rom.  vi.  16.  *  Rom.  vii.  23. 

&  Isa.  xiv.  3. 


20  MY   KING. 

but  our  cwn  desire.1  And  yet  we  did  not 
to  the  point :  we  were  not  ready  for  His  absolute 
monarchy,  for  we  were  loving  and  doing  the  will 
of  our  old  tyrant.2 

But  '  the  time  past  of  our  life  may  suffice  us  to 
have  wrought  the  will'  of  self — Satan  —  the 
world.3  We  do  not  want  t  to  live  the  rest  of  our 
time '  to  any  but  One  Will.4  We  come  face  to 
face  with  a  great  NOW  !  '  Now,  then,  do  it !' 5 
'Now,  then,'  let  us,  with  full  purpose  of  heart, 
dethrone  the  usurper  and  give  the  diadem  to 
Him  'whose  right  it  is/  a  blood-bought  and 
death-sealed  right.6 

He  does  not  force  allegiance, — He  waits  for  it. 
The  crown  of  our  own  individual  love  and  loyalty 
must  be  offered  by  our  own  hands.7  We  must 
'doit.'  When?  Oh,  now  !  Now  let  us  come 
to  Jesus  as  our  King.  Now  let  us,  first  in  solemn 
heart -surrender,  and  then  in  open  and  unmistak- 
able life-confession,  yield  ourselves  to  Him  as  our 
Sovereign,  our  Ruler. 

What  a  glorious  life  of  victory  and  peace  opens 
before  us  when  this  is  done  !  What  a  silencing 

1  Hag.  ii.  7.  2  !  Kings  xviii.  21.         3  x  pet.  iv.  3. 

4  i  Pet.  iv.  2.  &  2  Sam.  iii.  18.  6  Ezek  xxi.  26,  27 

7  2  Sam.  v.  3. 


THE  FIRST  TO  MEET  THE  KING.  21 

of  our  fears  lest  the  time  to  come  should  never- 
theless be  as  the  time  past !  '  Now,  then,  do  it : 
FOR  the  Lord  hath  spoken  of  David,  saying,  By 
the  hand  of  my  servant  David  I  will  save  my 
people  Israel  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philistines, 
and  out  of  the  hand  of  all  their  enemies. ' l 

Now,  do  not  let  us  '  take  away  from  the  words  '* 
of  this  promise,  and  merely  hope  that  our  King 
may  save  us  from  some  of  our  enemies.  The  Lord 
hath  said,  '  will  save  from  all?  Let  us  trust  our 
true  David  this  day  to  fulfil  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
and  verily  we  shall  not  fail  to  find  that  according 
to  our  faith  it  shall  be  unto  us.8 


FIFTH  DAY. 
The  First  to  Meet  the  King. 

*  For  thy  servant  doth  know  that  I  have  sinned  ;  there- 
fore, behold,  I  am  come  the  first  this  day  of  all  the  house 
of  Joseph  to  meet  my  Lord  the  king.' — 2  SAM.  xix.  20. 

YES,  I  have  sinned.  I  know  that  I  have  sinned. 
Whether  I  feel  it  more  or  less  does  not  touch  the 
fact :  I  know  it.  And  what  then  ?  *  THEREFORE, 
behold,  I  am  come  the  first  this  day  of  all  .  .  . 
to  meet  my  Lord  the  King.' 

1  3  Sam.  iii.  18  2  Rev.  xxii.  19.  8  Matt  ix.  29. 


S2  MY  KING. 

Just  because  I  know  that  I  have  sinned,  I  come 
to  Jesus.  He  came  to  call  sinners, l  He  came  to 
save  sinners,2  so  He  came  to  call  and  to  save  me. 
'This  is  all  my  desire.' 3 

Just  because  I  know  that  /  have  sinned,  I  may 
and  must  come  '  the  first  of  all.'  Thousands  are 
coming,  but  the  heart  knoweth  his  own  bitterness.4 
So,  not  waiting  for  others,  not  coming  in  order, 
but  '  first  of  all/  by  the  pressure  of  my  sore  need 
of  pardon,  I  come.  There  is  no  waiting  for  one's 
turn  in  coming  to  Jesus. 

'  The  first  of  all,'  because  it  is  against  'my  lord 
the  King '  that  I  have  sinned.  I  am  His  servant, 
so  I  have  the  greater  sin.5  '  The  first  of  all,  be- 
cause I  have  so  much  to  be  forgiven,  and  have 
already  been  forgiven  so  much,  that  I  must,  I  do, 
love  much ; 6  and  love,  even  of  a  sorrowing  sin- 
ner, seeks  nearness,  and  cannot  rest  in  distance.'7 

'Therefore/  also,  'I  am  corne  this  day.'  I 
dare  not  and  could  not  wait  till  to-morrow.  No 
need  to  wait,  even  till  to-night  !  Now  !  He  is 
passing  by,8  and  I  must  '  haste  to  meet '  Him.8 
'  While  he  is  near/  10  I  will  tell  Him  all. 

1  Matt.  ix.  13.  2  i  Tim.  i.  15.  3  a  Sam.  xxiii.  5. 

*  Prov.  xiv.  10.  6  Ps.  cxvi.  16.  6  Luke  vii.  47. 

J  Col.  ii.  13.       8  Matt.  xx.  30.      •  2  Sam.  xix.  16.      10  Isa.  Iv.  6. 


THE  FIRST  TO  MEET  THE  KING.  23 

I  am  come  to  meet  Him,  not  merely  to  go  to 
Him  : 1  for  He  is  always  coming  to  meet  us.  He 
was  on  His  way  before  I  had  said,  '  I  will  arise 
and  go.' 2  I  come,  because  He  comes  to  me. 

Yet  I  could  not  come  with  this  terrible  knowl- 
edge that  I  have  sinned,  but  that  I  know  some- 
thing more.  I  know  that  He  hath  said,  *  Come 
unto  me.' 3  I  know  that  He  hath  said,  '  Him 
that  cometh  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.4  This  is 
enough  ;  therefore  I  am  come  to  my  Lord  the 
King. 

Not  to  His  servants,  but  to  Himself.  Even 
those  who  stand  near  Him  may  accuse  and  con- 
demn, but  the  King  Himself  will  receive  me  gra- 
ciously ; 5  for  with  Him  there  is  forgiveness,  and 
mercy,  and  plenteous  redemption.6 

And  though  the  oath  of  an  earthly  sovereign 
may  be  broken,  my  King  (in  glorious  contrast  to 
the  imperfect  human  type)  '  keepeth  His  prom- 
ise for  ever.' 7  His  covenant  will  He  not  break, 
nor  alter  the  thing  that  is  gone  out  of  His  lips. 8 
Therefore  the  eternal  life  which  He  had  prom- 
ised me  is  secured  to  me  forever,  for  He  hath 

*  Zech.  ix.  9.  2  Luke  xv.  18.  8  Matt.  xi.  28. 

4  John  vi.  37.  5  Hos.  xiv.  2.  e  Ps.  cxxx.  4,  7. 

*  P».  CKlYK  f.   (P,V.  Bj      8    ps.  IxxXlX.  34. 


24  MV   KING. 

said,1  '  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life,  and  they 
shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck  them 
out  of  my  hand.' 2 


SIXTH  DAY. 

The   Condescension  of  the  King. 
'Behold,  thy  King  cometh  unto  thee.' — ZECH.  ix.  9. 

THAT  our  King  should  let  us  come  to  Him  is 
condescension  indeed.  But  have  we  praised  Him 
for  His  still  more  wonderful  condescension: 
'Thy  King  cometh  unto  thee' I11  Unto  thee' 
rebel,  traitor,  faithless  subject,  coward  and  cold- 
hearted  follower ;  for  where  is  the  life  that  has 
not  fallen  under  these  charges,  when  seen  in  the 
double  light  of  the  King's  perfect  law  and  the 
King's  great  love?  Yes,  he  cometh  unto  thee, 
and  it  is  enough  to  break  our  hearts  when  we  get 
one  contrasted  glimpse  of  this  undeserved  grace 
and  unparalleled  condescension. 

His  great  promise  has  had  its  first  fulfillment 
'unto  thee.'  It  is  a  finished  fact  of  sevenfold 
grace.  Thy  King  has  come,  and  His  own  voice 

1  i  John  ii.  35.  *  John  x.  28. 

8  Isa.  xlviii.  8. 


THE  CONDESCENSION  OF  THE  KING.  25 

has  given  the  objects  of  His  coming, — '  to  do 
Thy  will,  O  God ; l  <  to  fulfil '  the  law ; ' '  to  call 
sinners  to  repentance;'3  'to  seek  and  to  save 
that  which  was  lost ; ' 4  <  that  they  might  have 
life,  and  that  they  might  have  it  more  abun- 
antly  ; ' 5  '  a  light  into  the  world,  that  whosoever 
believeth  on  me  should  not  abide  in  darkness.'6 
What  He  came  to  do  He  has  done,  for  '  He  faileth 
not. ' 7  On  this  we  may  and  ought  to  rest  quietly 
and  undoubtingly,  for  the '  Lord  hath  <&#*  it. ' 8 

But  you  want  a  further  fulfilment, — you  want  a 
present  coming  from  your  King.  You  have  His 
most  sweet  word,  '  I  will  come  to  you  ; ' 9  and 
you  respond,  '  Oh,  when  wilt  Thou  come  unto 
me  ? ' 10  Are  you  ready  to  receive  the  King's 
own  answer  now  ?  Do  you  so  desire  His  coming, 
that  you  do  not  want  it  postponed  at  all  ?  Can 
you  defer  all  other  comers,  and  say  in  reality, 
*  Let  my  Beloved  come  ?  ' ll 

He  has  but  one  answer  to  that  appeal.  Hush  ! 
listen  !  believe !  for  the  King  speaks  to  you :  I 
am  come  to  my  garden,  my  sister,  my  spouse.111 

i  Heb.  x.  9.  2  Matt.  v.  17.  *  Matt.  ix.  13. 

*  Luke  xix.  10.  6  John  x.  10.  •  John  xii.  46 

7  Zeph.  iii.  5.  8  Isa.  xliv.  23.  •  John  xiv.  18. 

w  Ps.  ci.  a.  >*  Cant.  iv.  16.  »«  Cant.  v.  i. 


26  MY   KING. 

He  if  come.  Do  not  miss  the  unspeakable  bless- 
ing  and  joy  of  meeting  Him  and  resting  in  His 
presence,  by  hurrying  away  to  anything  else,  by 
listening  to  an  outward  call.1  Stay  now,  lay  the 
little  book  aside,  kneel  down  at  your  King's  feet, 
doubt  not  His  word,  which  is  '  more  sure '  than 
even  the  '  excellent  glory '  2  that  apostles  be- 
held, and  thank  Him  for  coming  to  you.  Com- 
mune with  Him  now  of  all  that  is  in  your  heart,3 
and  '  rejoice  greatly/  for  '  behold,  thy  King 
cometh  unto  thee.' 

'  Jesus  comes  to  hearts  rejoicing, 

Bringing  news  of  sin  forgiven ; 
Jesus  comes  in  sounds  of  gladness, 

Leading  souls  redeemed  to  heaven. 

*  Jesus  comes  again  in  mercy, 

When  our  hearts  are  bowed  with  care ; 

Jesus  comes  again,  in  answer 
To  an  earnest,  heartfelt  prayer.' 

GODFREY  THRING. 


*  Cant.  ii.  3.  2  2  Pet.  i.  19. 

8  z  Kings  x.  a. 


INDWELLING   OF  THK  KING.  27 

SEVENTH  DAY. 

The  Indwelling  of  the  King. 

'Is  not  her  King  in  her?' — JER.  viii.  19. 

WAITING  for  a  royal  coming, — What  expecta- 
tion, what  preparation,  what  tension  !  A  glimpse 
for  many,  a  full  view  for  some,  a  word  for  a  fa- 
vored few,  and  the  pageant  is  over  like  a  dream. 
The  Sovereign  may  come,  but  does  not  stay. 

Our  King  comes  not  thus  :  He  comes  not  to 
pass,  but  to  '  dwell  in  the  midst  of  thee/1  not 
only  in  His  Church  collectively,  but  in  each  be- 
liever individually.2  We  pray,  ' Abide  with  us/  3 
and  He  answers  in  the  sublime  plural  of  God- 
head, '  We  will  come  unto  him,  and  make  our 
abode  with  him.'  *  Even  this  grand  abiding  with 
us  does  not  extend  to  the  full  marvels  of  His  con- 
descension ^nd  His  nearness,  for  the  next  time 
He  speaks  ot  it  He  changes  the  'with  '  to  '  in,' 
and  thenceforth  only  speak?  of  •'  I  in  you/  'I  in 
him/  'I  in  them.'5 

Now  do  not  let  us  say,  '  How  can  this  be  ?'  * 
but,  like  Mary,  'How  shall  this  be?'7  This 

1  Zech.  ii.  10.  2  2  Cor.  vi.  16.  3  Luke  xxiv.  39. 

*  John  xiv.  23.  *  John  xv.  4,  5  ;  ib.  xvii.  23. 

*  John  iii.  9.  7  Luke  i.  34. 


28  MY   KING. 

means,  though  not  the  mode,  of  the  mystery  is 
revealed  for  our  grasp  of  adoring  wonder :  '  That 
Christ  may  dwell  in  your  heart  by  faith.' l  It  is 
almost  too  wonderful  to  dare  to  speak  of.  Christ 
Himself,  my  King,  coming  to  me,  into  me  !  abid- 
ing, dwelling  in  my  very  heart  !  Really  staying 
there  all  day,  all  night,  wherever  I  am,  whatever 
I  am  doing ;  here  in  my  poor  unworthy  heart  at 
this  very  moment  !  And  this  only  because  the 
grace  that  flowed  from  His  own  love  has  broken 
the  bars  of  doubt,  and  because  He  has  given  the 
faith  that  wanted  Him  and  welcomed  Him.  Let 
us  pause  a  little  to  take  it  in  ! 

The  more  we  have  known  of  the  plague  of  our 
own  heart,2  the  more  inconceivably  wonderful 
this  indwelling  of  Christ  will  appear, — much 
more  wonderful  than  that  He  chose  a  manger  as 
His  royal  resting-place,3  for  that  had  never  been 
denied  by  sin,  and  had  never  harbored  His 
enemy.  It  is  no  use  trying  to  comprehend  this 
incomprehensible  grace  of  our  King, — we  have 
only  to  believe  His  promise,  saying,  <  Amen  ;  the 
Lord  God  of  my  Lord  the  King  says  so  too.'  * 

1  Eph.  iii.  17.  2  j  Kings  viii.  38. 

*  Luke  ii.  7.  4  i  Kings  i  36. 


SATISFACTION   IN   THK   KING.  29 

There  should  be  three  practical  results  of  this 
belief: — i.  Holiness.  We  must  see  to  it  that  we 
resolutely  '  put  away ' *  all  that  ought  not  to  be 
in  His  royal  abode.2  '  Having,  therefore,  these 
promises,  dearly  beloved,  let  us  cleanse  ourselves 
from  #//filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfect- 
ing holiness  in  the  fear  of  God/3  2.  Confi- 
dence. What  does  this  citadel  fear  when  an  in- 
vincible general  is  with  it  ?  '  The  Lord  thy  God 
in  the  midst  of  thee  is  mighty  ;  He  will  save  '  * 
He  is  '  the  wall  of  fire  round  about,'  and  '  the 
glory  in  the  midst  of  her ;' 5  and  '  he  that  toucheth 
you  toucheth  the  apple  of  His  eye.' 6  3.  Joy. 
Yes  !  '  Be  glad  and  rejoice  with  all  the  heart,' T 
'  sing  and  rejoice,  O  daughter  of  Zion ;  for,  lo,  I 
come,  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  thee, 
saiththe  Lord.'8 

EIGHTH  DAY. 

Full  Satisfaction  in  the  King. 

'  Yea,  let  him  take  all,  for  as  much  as  my  lord  the  king  is 
come  again  in  peace  to  his  own  house.' — 2  SAM.  xix.  30. 

IT  is  when  the  King  has  really  come  in  peace  to 
His  own  home  in  the  '  contrite  and  humble 

1  Eph.  iv.  31.  *  i  Cor.  Hi.  iC,  17.  8  2  Cor  vii.  T.  *  Zeph.  iii.  17. 
•  Zech.  ii.  5.   6  Zech.  ii.  8      *  Zeph.  iii.  14.  8  Zech  ii.  10. 


30  MY  KING. 

spirit ' l  (not  before), — when  He  has  entered  in  to 
make  His  abode  there2  (not  before), — that  the 
soul  is  satisfied  with  Him3 alone,  and  is  ready  to 
let  any  Ziba  take  all  else,  because  all  else  really 
seems  nothing  at  all  in  comparison  to  the  con- 
scious possession  of  the  Treasure  of  treasures.4 

Sometimes  this  is  reached  at  once,  in  the  first 
flush  of  wondering  joy  at  finding  the  King  really 
6  come  in  peace ' 5  to  the  empty  soul  which 
wanted  to  be  '  His  own  house.' 6  Sometimes  very 
gradually, — as  year  after  year  we  realize  His  in- 
dwelling more  and  more,  and  find  again  and 
again  that  He  is  quite  enough  to  satisfy  us  in  all 
circumstances  ;  that  the  empty  corners  of  the 
'  house  '  are  filled  one  after  another  ;  that  the  old 
longings  have  somehow  gone  away,  and  the  old 
ambitions  vanished  ;  that  the  old  tastes  and  inter- 
ests in  the  things  of  the  world  are  superseded  by 
stronger  tastes  and  interests  in  the  things  of 
Christ ;  that  He  is  day  by  day  more  really  filling 
our  lives,7-- -we  (  count '  (because  we  really  find) 
one  thing  after  another  '  but  loss  for  the  excel- 
lency of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord/  8 

1  Tsa.  Ivii.  15.  *  John  xiv.  23.  3  Ps.  xxii.  26. 

«  Matt.  xiii.  46.  5  Isa.  xxxiii.  6.  «  Heb.iii.  6, 

7  Eph.  i.  23.  8  Phil.  iii.  8. 


SATISFACTION   IN  THE  KING.  31 

till  He  leads  us  on  to  the  rapturous  joy  of  the 
'  Yea,  doubtless,'  and  '  all  things  !' 

Now,  have  we  got  as  far  as  saying  '  some 
things/  without  being  quite  sure  about  '  all 
things  ?'  Do  you  see  that  it  all  hinges  upon 
Jesus  coming  into  the  heart  as  '  His  own  house/ 
— altogether  '  His  own  ?' J  For  if  there  are  some 
rooms  of  which  we  do  not  give  up  the  key, — 
some  little  sitting-room  which  we  would  like  to 
keep  as  a  little  mental  retreat,  with  a  view  from 
the  window,  which  we  do  not  quite  want  to  give 
up, — some  lodger  whom  we  would  rather  not  send 
away  just  yet,  — some  little  dark  closet  which  we 
have  not  resolution  to  open  and  set  to  rights, — of 
course  the  King  has  not  full  possession  ;  it  is  not 
all  and  really  '  His  own  ;'  and  the  very  misgiving 
about  it  proves  that  He  has  therefore  not  yet 
'  come  again  in  peace.'  It  is  no  use  expecting 

*  perfect  peace/  2  while  He  has  a  secret  contro- 
versy 3  with  us  about  any  withholding  of  what  is 

*  His  own  '  *  by  purchase.     Only  throw  open  all 
the  doors,5  l  and  the  King  of  Glory  shall  come 
in/  6  and  then  there  will  be  no  craving  for  other 

l  Acts  xxvi.  29.  s  Isa.  xxvi.  3.  8  Mic.  vii.  2. 

*  Acts  v.  2.  *  Rev.  iii.  20.  tt  Ps.  xxi'v.  9. 


32  MY   KING. 

guests.     He  will  '  fill  this  house  with  glory/  1  and 
there  will  be  no  place  left  for  gloom. 

Is  it  not  so  ?  Bear  witness,  tell  it  out,  you 
with  whom  the  King  dwells  in  peace?  Life  is 
filled  with  bright  interests,  time  is  filled  with 
happy  work  or  peaceful  waiting,  the  mind  is  filled 
with  His  beautiful  words  and  thoughts,  the  heart 
is  filled  with  His  presence,  and  you  '  abide  satis- 
fied '  *  with  Him  !  Yes,  <  tell  it  out !  ' 

The  human  heart  asks  love  :  but  now  I  know 

That  my  heart  hath  from  Thee 
All  real,  and  full,  and  marvellous  affection, 
So  near,  so  human  !  yet  Divine  perfection 
Thrills  gloriously  the  mighty  glow ! 
.   Thy  love  is  enough  for  me ! 

There  were  strange  soul-depths,  restless,  vast  and  broad, 

Unfathomed  as  the  sea ; 
An  infinite  craving  for  some  infinite  stilling ; 
But  now  Thy  perfect  love  is  perfect  filling ! 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  my  Lord  my  God, 

Then,  Thou  art  enough  for  me. 

1  Hag.  ii.  7.  *  Prov   x«x.  23. 


THE  SORROW   OF  THE   KING.  33 

NINTH   DAY. 
The  Sorrow  of  the  King. 

'The  king  himself  also  passed  over  the  brook  Kidron.'  * 
2  SAM.  xv.  23. 

1  JESUS  went  forth  with  His  disciples  over  the 
brook  Cedron.' 2  How  precisely  the  Old  Testa- 
ment shadow  corresponds  with  the  New  Testa- 
ment fulfilment  !  The  King,  in  sorrow  and  hu- 
miliation, is  here  brought  before  us,  passing  from 
his  royal  home,  from  all  his  glory  and  gladness, 
— passing  over  into  exile  and  unknown  distresses.3 

There  is  no  need  for  imagination  in  dwelling 
on  His  sorrows.  The  pathos  of  the  plain  words 
is  more  than  enough ;  no  pen  has  power  to  add 
to  it.  Let  us  listen  to  them  just  as  they  stand, 
— not  hurrying  over  them  because  they  are  only 
texts,  and  we  know  them  all  beforehand ;  they 
are  the  Holy  Ghost's  sevenfold  testimony  to  the 
sorrow  of  the  King. 

'A  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with 
grief,' 4  '  I  am  poor  and  sorrowful.' 5  *  The  sor- 
rows of  death  compassed  me.'  '  The  sorrows  of 

1  Kidron  means  'obscurity* ;  Cedron  is  'black'  or  'sad.' 

*  John  xviii.  i.  3  2  Sam.  xviii.  ao. 

*  Isa.  liii.  3.  6  Ps.  Ixix.  29. 


34  MY  KING. 

hell  compassed  me.' l  '  Behold  and  see  if  there 
be  any  sorrow  like  unto  my  sorrow. ' 2  'He  be- 
gan to  be  sorrowful  and  very  heavy. ' 3  '  My  soul 
is  exceedingly  sorrowful,  even  unto  death.' 4  Oh, 
stay  a  little  that  you  may  take  it  in  !  hear  Jesus 
saying  to  you,  '  Hear,  I  pray  you,  and  behold 
my  sorrow  ?'  5 

'  Surely  He  hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  carried 
our  sorrows. ' 6  The  sorrows  of  the  past,  the 
very  sorrow  that  may  be  pressing  heavily  at  this 
moment ;  all  yours,  all  mine ;  all  the  sorrows  of 
all  His  children  all  through  the  groaning  gener- 
ations;  all  that  were  'too  heavy'7  for  them, — 
Jesus  bore  them  all.  '  Is  it  nothing  to  you?  ' 8  It 
is  when  the  Lord  says,  '  No  w  will  I  !  gather 
them'  (the  rebels  and  wanderers),  that  He  adds, 
'  And  they  shall  sorrow  a  little  for  the  burden  of 
the  King  of  princes.' 9  Have  we  this  proof  that 
He  has  indeed  gathered  us  ?  For  '  all  the  people, ' 
except  the  rebels,  '  passed  over  with  the  king. ' 10 
Do  we  know  any  thing  of  this  passage  over 
Cedron,  the  brook  of  sadness,  with  Him  ?  Pos- 

1  Ps.  xviii.  4,  5.  *  Lam.  i.  12.  3  Matt.  xxvi.  37. 

*  Matt.  xxvi.  38.  5  Lam.  i.  18.  6  Isa.  liii.  4. 

1  Ps.  xxxviii.  4.  8  Lam.  i.  12.  *  Hos.  viii.  10. 

10  a  Sam.  xv.  23. 


THE  SORROW  OF  THE   KING.  35 

sibly  it  seems  presumptuous  to  think  of  sharing 
1  the  fellowship  of  His  sufferings/1  that  mys- 
terious privilege  !  Bat  mark,  it  was  not  only  the 
mighty  Ittai  and  '.all  his  men/  the  nobles  and 
the  veterans,  that  passed  over,  but  <  all  the  little 
ones  that  were  with  him '  2  too.  And  so  '  the 
little  ones,  the  weak  ones/  s  the  least  member  of 
His  body,  may  thus  '  continue  with  '*  Jesus ;  and 
nothing  brings  one  closer  to  another  than  a 
shared  sorrow. 

But  look  forward  !  Because  He  has  drunk  'of 
the  brook  in  the  way,  therefore  shall  He  lift  up 
the  head. ' 5  Already  the  ( exceeding  sorrowful ' 6 
is  exchanged  for  '  Thou  hast  made  Him  (the 
King)  exceedingly  glad ;  ' 7  and  when  the  ran- 
somed and  gathered  of  the  Lord  shall  return 
with  everlasting  joy,8  '  their  King  shall  also  pass 
before  them. ' 9 

1  Phil.  iii.  10.  a  2  Sam.  xv.  22. 

3  i  Cor.  xii.  26,  27.  *  Luke  xxii.  28. 

»  Ps.  ex.  7.  •  Matt.  xxvi.  38. 

1  Ps.  xxi.  6.  8  Isa.  xxxv.  10. 

•  Mic.  ii.  13. 


36  MY  KING. 

TENTH  DAY. 

Going  forth  with  the  King. 

*  The  king  said,  Wherefore  wentest  thou  not  with  me  ?  '•— 
2  SAM.  xix.  25. 

'  WITH  me  ! ' l  To  be  with  our  King  will  be  our 
highest  bliss  for  eternity;  and  surely  it  is  the 
position  of  highest  honor  and  gladness  now. 
But  if  we  would  always  be  with  Him,  we  must 
sometimes  be  ready  to  go  with  Him.  * 

'  The  Son  of  God  goes  forth  to  war '  now-a- 
days.  Do  we  go  with  Him?  His  cross  is 
'without  the  gate.'  Do  we  go  '  forth  unto  Him 
without  the  camp,  bearing  His  reproach  '  ? 3  Do 
we  really  go  with  Him  every  day  and  all  day 
long,  following  '  the  Lamb  whithersoever  He 
goeth  '  ? 4  What  about  this  week — this  day  ? 
Have  we  loyally  gone  with  our  King  wherever 
His  banner,  His  footsteps,  go  before  ? 5 

If  the  voice  of  our  King  is  heard  in  our  hearts, 
<  Wherefore  wentest  thou  not  with  me  ?  f — thou 
who  hast  eaten  ( continually  at  the  King's  table  ' 6 
— thou  who  hast  had  a  place  among  '  the  King's 
sons," — thou  unto  whom  the  King  has  shown 

1  John  xvii.  24.  *  i  Thess.  iv.  17.  3  Heb.  xiii.  12,  13. 

*  Rev.  xiv.  4.  6  i  Pet.  ii.  21.  •  a  Sam.  ix.  13. 

7  3  Sam.  ix.  n. 


GOING   FORTH   WITH  THE   KING.  37 

'the  kindnesss  of  God/  l  we  have  no  'because' 
to  offer.  He  would  have  healed  the  spiritual 
lameness  that  hindered,2  and  we  might  have  run 
after  Him.  We  are  without  excuse. 

It  is  only  now  that  we  can  go  with  Jesus  into 
conflict,  suffering,  loneliness,  weariness.  It  is 
only  now  that  we  can  come  to  the  help  of  the 
Lord  against  the  mighty 8  in  this  great  battle- 
field. Shall  we  shrink  from  opportunities  which 
are  not  given  to  the  angels?  Surely,  even  with 
Him  in  glory,  the  disciples  mnst  '  remember  the 
words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  he  said  '  *  to  them, 
*  Ye  are  they  which  have  continued  with  me  in 
my  temptations/ 5  with  a  thrill  of  rapturous 
thanksgiving  that  such  a  privilege  was  theirs. 

There  will  be  no  more  suffering  with  Him  in 
heaven,  only  reigning  with  Him;8  no  more 
fighting  under  His  banner,  only  sitting  with  Him 
on  His  throne.7  But  to-day  we  may  prove  our 
loving  and  grateful  allegiance  to  our  King  in  the 
presence  of  His  enemies,  by  rising  up  and  going 
forth  with  Him, — forth  from  a  life  of  easy  idle- 
ness or  selfish  business, — forth  into  whatever  form 

i  2  Sam.  ix.  3.  a  2  Sam.  xix.  a6.  *  Judges  v.  23. 

*  Acts  xx.  35.  *  Luke  xxii.  28.  '  2  Tim.  ii.  12. 

7  Rev.  iii.  21. 


38  MY  KING. 

of  blessed  fellowship  in  His  work,  His  wars,  or? 
it  may  be,  of  His  sufferings,  the  King  Himself  may 
choose  for  us.1  We  have  heard  His  call,  '  Come 
unto  me. '  To-day  He  says,  'Come  with  me. ' 2 

True-hearted,  whole-hearted  !    Faithful  and  loyal, 
King  of  our  lives,  by  Thy  grace  we  will  be  1 

Under  Thy  standard  exalted  and  royal. 

Strong  in  Thy  strength  we  will  battle  for  Thee. 


ELEVENTH   DAY. 
The  Smiting  of  the  King. 
'  I  will  smite  the  king  only.' — 2  SAM.  xvii.  2. 
IT  may  be  that  this  futile  threat  of  a  wicked 
man  against  the  king  was  like  the  saying  of  Caia- 
phas, — 'not   of  himself,'3   but   written   for  our 
learning  '  more  about  Jesus. '  *     A  deadly  stroke 
was  to  be  aimed  at  '  the  king  only,'   for  he  was 
'  worth  ten  thousand  '  of  the  people ; 5  if  he  were 
smitten,  they  should  escape,     Do  the  words  of 
David  in  another  place  tell  of  his  great  Anti- 
type's desire  that  it  should  be  so  ?     '  Let  Thine 
hand,  I  pray  Thee,  O  Lord  my  God,  be  on  me, 
.     .     .     but  NOT  on  Thy  people. ' 6     '  For  the 

1  2  Cor.  vi.  i ;  Phil.  iii.  10.  2  Cant.  iv.  8.  3  john  xi.  51. 

<  Rom.  xv.  4.  5  Cf.  i  Kings  xxii.  31 ;  2  Sam.  xviii.  3. 

6  i  Chron.  xxi.  17. 


THS  SMITING  OF  THE  KING.  3$ 

transgression  of  ray  people  was  the  stroke  upon 
Him  ' l  (margin)  ;  therefore  not  upon  us,  never 
upon  us.  The  lightning  that  strikes  the  con- 
ductor instead  of  the  building  to  which  it  is 
joined,  has  spent  its  fiery  force  and  strikes  no  more. 
Not  the  hand  of  an  impotent  foe,  but  the  sharp 
sword  of  the  omnipotent  Lord  of  hosts,  was  lifted 
to  smite  His  Shepherd, — our  Shepherd-king,2  The 
Great,3  The  Chief/  The  Good5  (and  The  Beau- 
tiful, as  the  original  implies).  Think  of  the 
words,  'stricken,  smitten  of  God,'6  with  their 
unknown  depths  of  agony,  and  then  of  Jesus, 
Him  whom  we  love,7  fathoming  those  black 
depths  of  agony  alone !  ' Jesus,  smitten  of 
God  !*  can  we  even  say  the  words,  and  not  feel 
moved  as  no  other  grief  could  move  us  ?  Do 
not  let  us  shrink  from  dwelling  upon  it ;  let  us 
rather  ask  the  Holy  Spirit,  even  now,  to  show  us 
a  little  of  what  this  awful  smiting  really  was, — 
to  show  us  our  dear  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  this 
tremendous  proving  of  His  own  and  His  Father's 
love, — to  whisper  in  our  hearts  as  we  gaze  upon 
the  Crucified  One,  '  Behold  your  King  ! ' 9 

1  Isa.  liii.  8.  2  Zcch.  xiii.  7.  8  Heb.  xiii.  20. 

•*  i  Pet.  v.  4  5  John  x.  xx.  6  Isa.  liii.  4. 

7  i  Pet.  i.  8.  8  Isa.  Ixiii.  3.  *  John  ix.  14. 


40  MY   KING. 

'The  King  only.9  For,  <by  Himself  H« 
purged  our  sins.' *  Certainly  we  had  nothing  to 
do  with  it  then  !  Certainly  no  other  man  or 
means  had  anything  to  do  with  it  !  and  certainly 
nothing,  and  no  one  now  can  touch  that  great 
fact,  so  far  out  of  reach  of  human  quibbling 
and  meddling,  that  Jesus,  '  His  own  self,  bare 
our  sins  in  His  own  body  on  the  tree. ' 2  Is  no* 
the  fact  that  He  'with  whom  we  have  to  do,'? 
was  smitten  of  God  instead  of  us,  enough  ?  What 
else  can  we  want  to  guarantee  our  salvation  ? 

'  The  King  only'  For  the  sorrow  of  our  King 
is  shared  with  His  people;  but  in  the  smiting; 
we  have  no  part.  We  can  only  stand  '  afar  off,' ' 
bowed  and  hushed  in  shuddering  love,  as  the 
echoes  of  the  awful  stripes  that  fell  on  Him  float 
down  through  the  listening  centuries,  while  each 
throb  of  the  healed  heart  replies,  '  For  me!  for 
me!'5 

'  I  have  trodden  the  wine-press  alone  and  of 
the  people  there  was  none  with  me.' 6 

1  Heb.  i.  3.  2  !  Pet.  ii.  24. 

3  Heb.  iv.  13.  4  Matt,  xxvii.  55. 

6  Isa.  liii.  5.  «  Isa.  Ixiii.  3. 


KINSHIP  OF  THE  KING.  41 

TWELFTH  DAY. 

The  kinship  of  the  King. 

*  The  king  is  near  of  kin  to  us.' — 2  SAM.  xix.  42. 

NOT  only  in  the  Prophet  raised  up  '  from  the 
midst  of  thee,  of  thy  brethren/1  and  in  the 
High  Priest,  '  thy  brother  ' 2  '  taken  from  among 
men,' 3  do  we  see  the  kinship  of  Christ;  but  in 
the  divinely  chosen  King  the  same  wonderful 
link  is  given — '  One  from  among  thy  brethren 
shalt  thou  set  king  over  thee :  thou  mayest  not 
set  a  stranger  over  thee,  which  is  not  thy  brother.' 4 

How  very  close  this  brings  us  to  our  glor- 
ious Lord  !  And  yet,  when  we  have  exhausted 
all  that  is  contained  in  the  very  full  and  dear 
idea  of  '  brother,'  we  are  led  beyond,  to  realize 
One  who  'sticketh  closer  than  a  brother,'5  be- 
cause no  earthly  relationship  can  entirely  shadow 
forth  what  Jesus  is.  And  whatever  relationship 
we  most  value  or  most  miss,  will  be  the  very  one 
which,  whether  by  possession  or  loss,  will  show 
us  most  of  Him,  and  yet  fall  short  of  His  '  re- 
ality.' For  we  always  have  to  go  beyond  the 
type  to  reach  the  antitype. 

•  Deut.  xviii.  15.  *  Ex.  xxviii.  x.  *  Heb.  v.  x. 

*  Deut.  xvii.  15.  6  Prov.  xviii.  24. 


42  MY   KING. 

The  King  is  so  'near  of  kin/  that  we  may 
come  to  Him  as  the  tribes  of  Israel  did, 
and  say,  '  Behold,  we  are  Thy  bone  and  Thy 
flesh  ; ' *  finding  many  a  sweet  endorsement  of 
the  type  in  His  word.  So  near  of  kin,  that  He 
is  '  in  all  things '  '  made  like  unto  His  brethren ;  '2 
and  whatever  is  included  in  the  flesh  and  blood 
of  which  we  are  partakers,  sin  only  is  excepted. 
'  He  also  Himself  likewise  took  part  of  the  same. ' 3 

So  *  near  of  kin  to  us,'  and  yet  God  !  There- 
fore every  good  thing  that  we  find  in  near 
human  relationships,  we  shall  find  in  Jesus  the 
immeasurable  proportion  of  the  divine  to  the 
human.  Is  not  this  worth  thinking  out,  each  for 
ourselves  ? — worth  seeking  to  enter  into  ? 

But  will  He  acknowledge  the  kinship  ?  He 
hath  said,  'Whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother 
and  sister  and  mother.'  *  '  How  beautiful  to  be 
Christ's  little  sister  '  !  said  a  young  disciple.  For 
of  course  He  really  menns  it.  Will  not  this 
make  our  prayer  more  fervent,  '  Teach  me  to  do 
Thy  will  ?  ' 5 

i  2  Sam.  v.  i.  2  Heb.  ii.  17.  3  Heb.  ii.  14. 

*  Matt.  xii.  50.  *  Ps.  cxliii.  10. 


KINSHIP  OF  THE  KING.  43 

If  the  King  is  indeed  near  of  kin  to  us,  the 
royal  likeness  will  be  recognizable.  Can  it  be 
said  of  us,  'As  thou  art,  so  were  they;  each  one 
resembled  the  children  of  a  king?1  Nor  let  us 
shrink  from  aiming  at  the  still  higher  standard, 
f-  The  King's  daughter  is  all  glorious  within.' 2 

We  must  not  dwell  only  on  a  one-sided  kinship. 
If  i  He  is  not  ashamed  to  call'  us  l  brethren,'3 
shall  we  ever  be  ashamed  to  call  Him  Master? 
If  He  is  ready  to  give  us  ail  that  is  implied  or  in- 
volved in  near  kinship,  should  we  fail  to  recipro- 
cate with  all  the  love  and  sympathy  and  faithful- 
ness which  the  tie  demands  on  our  side  ? 

"  Also,  if  we  do  realize  this  great  privilege,  let 
us  prove  our  loyal  love  to  our  Brother-King  by 
*  looking  for  and  hasting  unto  the  coming  of  the 
day '  *  of  His  return.  Let  us  not  incur  the  touch- 
ing reproach,  '  Ye  are  my  brethren,  ye  are  my 
bones  and  my  flesh :  wherefore  then  are  ye  the 
last  to  bring  back  the  King? ' 5 

Joined  to  Christ  in  mystic  union, 
We  Thy  members,  Thou  our  Head, 

Sealed  by  deep  and  true  communion, 
Risen  with  Thee,  who  once  were  dead. 

l  Judges  viii.  18.  a  Ps.  xlv.  13.  «  Heb.  ii.  «. 

4  a  Pet.  Hi.  18.  6  2  Sam.  xix.  12. 


44 


IvIY   KING. 

Saviour,  we  would  humbly  claim 
All  the  power  of  this  Thy  name. 

Instant  sympathy  to  brighten 

All  their  weakness  and  their  woe, 

Guiding  grace  their  way  to  lighten, 
Shall  Thy  loving  members  know, 

All  their  sorrows  Thou  dost  bear, 

All  Thy  gladness  they  shall  share. 

Everlasting  life  Thou  givest, 

Everlasting  love  to  see ; 
They  shall  li  e  because  Thou  livest, 

And  their  life  is  hid  with  Thee. 
Safe  Thy  members  shall  be  found, 
When  their  glorious  Head  is  crowned ! 


THIRTEENTH  DAY. 

The  Desire  of  the  King. 

So  shall  the  King  greatly  desire  thy  beauty.' — Ps  xlv.  ne 

CAN  this  be  for  us  ?  What  beauty  have  we  that 
the  King  can  desire  ?  For  the  more  we  have  seen 
of  His  beauty,1  the  more  we  have  seen  of  our  own 
utter  ugliness.  What,  then,  can  He  see?  '  My 
comeliness  which  I  had  put  upon  thee.' 2  'The 
beauty  of  the  Lord  our  God  upon  us.'3  For 
'He  will  beautify  the  meek  with  salvation.'* 
And  so  the  desire  of  the  King  is  set  upon  us. 

1  Isa.  vi.  5.        *  Ezek.  xvi.  14.        3  ps>  xc>  I7>        4  ps  cxlix.  4. 


OF  THE   KING.  45 

Perhaps  we  have  had  the  dreary  idea,  '  No- 
body wants  me  !  '  We  never  need  grope  in  that 
gloom  again,  when  the  King  Himself  desires  us  ! 
This  desire  is  love  active,  love  in  glow,  love  going 
forth,  love  delighting  and  longing.  It  is  the 
strongest  representation  of  the  love  of  Jesus, — 
something  far  beyond  the  love  of  pity  or  compas- 
sion ;  it  is  taking  pleasure  in  His  people  ; l  de- 
lighting in  them ; 2  willing  (Y.  <?.  putting  forth  the 
grand  force  of  His  will)  that  they  should  be  with 
Him  where  He  is,  with  Him  now,  with  Him  al- 
ways.3 It  is  the  love  that  does  not  and  will  not 
endure  separation, — the  love  that  cannot  do  with- 
out its  object.  '  So  shall  the  King  desire  thy 
beauty. ' 

He  gave  us  a  glimpse  of  this  gracious  fervor 
when  He  said,  '  With  desire  I  have  desired  to  eat 
this  passover  with  you  before  I  suffer. '  *  With 
Gethsemane  and  Calvary  in  fullest  view,  His 
heart's  desire  was  to  spend  those  few  last  hours  in 
closest  intercourse  with  His  disciples.  'So*  did 
He  desire  them. 

Now,  if  we  take  the  King  at  His  word,  and 

<•  Ps.  cxlix.  4  2  ls<  lx,i.  4.  a  J0hn  xvii.  24  ;  ib.  xii.  26. 

*  Luke  xxii.  15. 


46  MY  KING. 

really  believe  that  He  thus  desires  us,  can  we 
possibly  remain  cold-hearted  and  indifferent  to 
Him  ?  Can  we  bear  the  idea  of  disappointing 
His  \QVQ,—such  love, — and  meeting  it  with  any 
such  pale,  cool  response  as  would  wound  any  hu- 
man heart,  '  I  do  not  know  whether  I  love  you 
or  not !' 

Oh,  do  let  us  leave  off  morbidly  looking  to  see 
exactly  how  much  we  love  (which  is  just  like  try- 
ing to  warm  ourselves  with  a  thermometer,  and 
perhaps  only  ends  in  doubting  whether  we  love 
at  all),  and  look  straight  away  at  His  love  and 
his  desire  ! l  Think  of  Jesus  actually  wanting 
you,  really  desiring  your  love,  not  satisfied  with 
all  the  love  of  all  the  angels  and  saints  unless  you 
love  him  too, — needing  that  little  drop  to  fill  His 
cup  of  joy  !  Is  there  no  answering  throb,  no  re- 
sponsive glow  ? 

*  Lord,  let  the  glow  of  Thy  great  love 
Through  my  whole  being  shine  ! ' 

Perhaps  it  is  upon  the  emphatic  'so,'  as  point- 
ing to  the  context,  that  the  intensity  of  the  em- 
phatic 'greatly*  hinges.  It  is  when  the  bride 

1  Heb.  xii.  *-* 


&CEPTRE  OF  THE  KING.  47 

forgets  her  own  people  and  her  father's  house,1 — • 
that  is,  when  her  life  and  love  are  altogether 
given  to  her  Royal  Bridegroom, — that  He  '  shall 
greatly  desire '  her  beauty.  When  His  glorious 
beauty  has  so  filled  our  eyes,  and  His  incompre- 
hensible love  has  so  filled  our  hearts,2  that  He  is 
first,  and  most,  and  dearest  of  all, — when  we  can 
say  not  merely,  '  The  desire  of  our  souls  is  to 
Thy  name/ 3  but  '  There  is  none  upon  earth  that  I 
desire  beside  Thee/4 — when  thus  we  are,  to  the 
very  depth  of  our  being,  really  and  entirely  our 
Beloved's,  then  we  may  add,  in  solemn,  wonder- 
ing gladness,  '  And  His  desire  is  toward  me.'6 

O  love  surpassing  thought, 
So  bright,  so  grand,  so  clear,  so  true,  so  glorious; 

Love  infinite,  love  tender,  love  unsought, 

Love  changeless,  love  rejoicing,  love  victorious ! 

And  this  great  love  for  us  in  boundless  store; 

Christ's  everlasting  love !  What  wouldst  thou  more  ? 


FOURTEENTH  DAY. 

The  Sceptre  of  the  King. 

'The  king  held  out  the  golden  sceptre.' — EsTH.viit  4. 

JESUS  is  He  '  that  holdeth  the  sceptre, 6 — the 
symbol  first  of  kingly  right  and  authority,  and 

1  Ps.  xlv.  10.  a  Eph.  iii.  19.  *  Isa.  xxvi.  8. 

*  Ps.  Ixxiii.  35.  *  Cant.  vii.  zo.  *  Amos.  i.  5. 


48  MY  KING. 

next  of  righteousness  and  justice.  '  A  sceptre  of 
righteousness  is  the  sceptre  of  Thy  kingdom/1 — 
'aright  sceptre.'2  And  yet  the  golden  sceptre 
was  held  out  as  the  sign  of  sovereign  mercy  to 
one  who,  by  '  one  law  of  his  to  put  him  to  death/ 
must  otherwise  have  perished,  '  that  he  may  live/8 
Thus,  by  the  combination  of  direct  statement  and 
type,  we  are  shown  in  this  figure  the  beautiful, 
perfect  meeting  of  the  '  mercy  and  truth '  of  our 
King,  the  '  righteousness  and  peace '  of  His  king- 
dom.4 

Again  and  again  the  Holy  Ghost  repeats  this 
grand  blending  of  seemingly  antagonistic  attri- 
butes, confirming  to  us  in  many  ways  this  strong 
consolation.5 

How  precious  the  tiny  word  and  becomes,  as 
we  read,  '  He  is  just,  and  having  salvation.'6  'A 
merciful  and  faithful  High  Priest.' 7  '  A  just  God, 
and  a  Saviour.'8  We  do  not  half  value  God's 
tittle  words. 

"  To  '  the  King's  enemies '  the  sceptre  is  a  'rod 
of  iron'9  (for  the  word  is  the  same  in  Hebrew), 
They  cannot  rejoice  in  the  justice  which  they 

1  Heb.  i.  8.  *  Ps.  xlv.  6.  3  Esth.  iv.  u. 

4  Ps.  Ixxxv.  10 ;  ib.  Ixxii.  2,  3.  5  Heb.  vi.  iR. 

6  Zech.  ix.  9.    '  Heb.  ii.  17.     8  Isa.  xlv.  21.     9  Ps.xlv.  5 ;  ib.  ii.  9 


SCEPTRE  OF  THE  KING.  49 

defy.  To  the  King's  willing  subjects  it  is  indeed 
golden,  a  beautiful  thing,  and  a  most  precious 
thing.  We  admire  and  glory  in  His  absolute 
justice  and  righteousness  ;  it  satisfies  the  depths  of 
our  moral  being, — it  is  so  strong,  so  perfect. 

His  justice  is,  if  we  may  reverently  say  so,  the 
strong  point  of  His  atoning  work.  The  costly 
means  of  our  redemption  were  paid  for  *  at  the 
full  price.'1  He  fulfilled  the  law.  There  was 
nothing  wanting  in  all  the  work  which  His  Father 
gave  Him  to  do.  He  finished  it.2  And  His 
Father  was  satisfied.  Thus  He  was  just  towards 
His  Father,  that  He  might  be  faithful  and  just  to 
forgive  us  our  sins.3  It  is  no  weak  compassion, 
merely  wrought  on  by  misery,  but  strong,  grand, 
infinite,  and  equal  justice  and  mercy,  balanced  as 
they  never  are  in  human  minds.  For  only  the 
ways  of  the  Lord  are  thus  '  equal.'4 

And  oh,  how  '  sweet  is  Thy  mercy '  !  and  just 
because  of  the  justice,  how  '  sure '  ! 5  Esther 
said,  *  If  I  perish,  I  perish.'6  So  need  not  we, 
<  for  His  mercy  endureth  forever.  * 7  And  so, 
every  time  we  come  into  the  audience  chamber  of 

1  i  Chron.  xxi.  24;  Matt.  v.  17.  2  John  xvii.  4;  Isa.  xlii.  21. 

8  i  John  i  9.  4  Ezek.  xviii.  25. 

*  Ps.  cix.  20,  P.  B.  V ;  Isa.  Iv.  3.    6  Esth.  iv.  16.    1  Ps.  cxxxvi.  i. 

4 


5  MY   KING. 

our  King,  we  know  that  the  golden  sceptre  will 
be  held  out  to  us,  first  ( that  we  may  live,* 1  and 
then  for  favor  after  favor.  '  Let  us  therefore 
come  boldly  unto  the  throne  of  grace,  that  we 
may  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  in  time 
of  need.' 2  Not  stand  afar  off  and  think  about  it, 
and  keep  our  King  waiting ;  but,  like  Esther,  <  let 
us  draw  near,' 3  and  '  touch  the  top  of  the  sceptre.'4 


FIFTEENTH  DAY. 

Cleaving  to  the  King. 

*  The  men  of  Judah  clave  unto  their  king.' — 2  SAM.  xx.  2. 

FOR  it  is  not  a  matter  of  course  that  coining  is 
followed  by  cleaving.  Even  when  the  King 
Himself,  in  His  veiled  royalty,  walked  and  talked 
with  His  few  faithful  followers,  '  many  of  his  dis- 
ciples went  back,  and  walked  no  more  with  Him/ 5 
There  was  no  word  of  indignation  or  reproach, 
only  the  appeal  of  infinite  pathos  from  His  gra- 
cious lips,  '  Will  ye  also  go  away  ?  '  6 

Let  this  sound  in  our  ears  to-day,  not  only  in 
moments  of  temptation  to  swerve  from  truest- 
hearted  loyalty  and  service,  but  all  through  the 

1  Esth.  v.  2  ;  iv.  IT  ;  viii.  3,  4.        2  Heb.  iv.  16.         3  Heb.  x.  22. 
*  Esth.  v.  a  5  John  vi.  66.          «  John  vi.  67. 


CLEAVING  TO  THE  KING.  51 

business  of  the  day;  stirring  our  too  easy-going 
resting  into  active  cleaving ;  quickening  our  fol- 
lowing afar  off l  into  following  hard  after  Him ;  * 
rousing  us  to  add  to  the  blessed  assurance,  '  Thine 
are  we,  David  ! '  the  bolder  and  nobler  position, 
'  and  on  Thy  side  ! ' 3 

For  this  cleaving  is  not  a  mere  terrified  cling- 
ing for  safety, — it  is  the  bright,  brave  resolution^ 
strengthened,  not  weakened,  by  the  sight  of  wa- 
verers  or  renegades,  to  be  on  His  side,  come 
what  may,  because  He  is  our  King,  because  we 
love  Him,  because  .His  cause  and  His  kingdom 
are  so  very  dear  to  us. 

We  cannot  thus  cleave,  without  loosening  from 
other  interests.  But  what  matter !  Let  us  be 
noble  for  Jesus,  like  the  men  of  might  who  '  sep- 
arated themselves  unto  David,'  and  who  'held 
strongly  with  him  in  his  kingdom.  ' 4  Shall  we 
be  mean  enough  to  aim  at  less,  when  it  is  our 
Lord  Jesus  who  would  have  us  entirely  'with 
Him'?5 

It  is,  after  all,  the  easiest  and  safest  course. 
The  especial  friends  and  '  the  mighty  men  which 

»  Matt.  xxvi.  58.  2  Ps.  Ixiii.  8.  8  i  Chron.  xii.  18. 

4  x  Chron.  xii.  8 ;  i  Chron.  xi.  10,  marg.  6  Cant.  iv.  8. 


54  MY  KING. 

King's  question  says  nothing  of  some  day,  but  of 
'  this  day/  And  the  question  is  put  to  you  :  if 
never  before,  it  is  sounding  in  your  ears  now. 
Shall  your  service  be  His,  '  this  day,' l  and  hence- 
forth ?  or  not?' 

The  result  of  willing  consecration  of  ourselves 
and  our  service  is  always  joy.  '  The  people  re- 
joiced, for  that  they  offered  willingly  ;' 2  but  was 
it  not  far  more,  far  sweeter,  that  their  king  '  also 
rejoiced  with  great  joy  ?'  How  they  must  have 
felt  when  He  said,  '  Now  have  I  seen  with  joy 
Thy  people  which  are  present  here,  to  offer  will- 
ingly unto  Thee  !  ' 3 

For  when  a  heart  and  life  are  willingly  offered 
and  fully  surrendered  to  Him,  He  sees  of  '  the 
travail  of  His  soul ' 4  in  it ;  it  is  a  new  accom- 
plishment of  the  work  which  He  came  to  do : 
and  what  then  ?  He  '  is  satisfied. '  If  motive 
were  wanting  to  yield  ourselves  unto  Him,5  would 
it  not  be  more  than  supplied  by  the  thought  that 
it  will  be  satisfaction  and  joy  to  Him  '  who  loved 
us  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own 
blood  ?  ' 6  It  seems  just  the  one  blessed  opportu- 

1  Josh.  xxiv.  15.  *  i  Chron.  xxix.  9.          3  i  Chron.  xxix   17. 

*  Isa.  liii.  ix.  *  Rom.  vi.  13.  6  Rev.  i.  5. 


THE  WORD  OF  THE  KING.  55 

nity  given  to  us  of  being  His  true  cup-bearers,1 
of  bringing  the  wine  of  joy  to  our  King  ;  and 
in  so  doing  He  will  make  our  own  cups  to  run  over.2 

As  our  own  hearts  are  filled  with  the  intense 
joy  of  consecration  to  oar  Lord,  a  yet  intenser 
glow  will  come  as  we  remember  that  His  joy  is 
greater  than  ours,  for  He  is  anointed  'with  the 
oil  of  gladness  above '  His  '  fellows. ' 3 

Shall  not  '  this  day '  be  '  the  day  of  the  glad- 
ness of  His  heart  ?'  *  Will  you  not  consecrate 
your  service  to-day  unto  Him  ? 5  For  then  '  He 
will  save,  He  will  rejoice  over  thee  with  joy ;  He 
will  rest  in  His  love ;  He  will  joy  over  thee  with 


ringing.'6 


Take  myself,  and  I  will  be, 
Ever,  only,  ALL,  for  Thee ! 


SEVENTEENTH  DAY. 
Rest  on  the  Word  of  the  King. 

*  The  word  of  my  lord  the  king  shall  now  be  for  rest ' 
(inargiri). — 2.  SAM.  xiv.  17. 

HERE  is  the  whole  secret  of  rest  from  the  very 
beginning  to  the  very  end.      The  word  of  our 

1  i  Kings  x.  5.  *  Ps.  xxiii.  5.  3  ps.  xiv.  7> 

'  Cant.  iii.  n.  *  i  Chron.  xxix.  5.          •  Zeph.  iii.  17. 


56  MY  KING. 

King  is  all  we  have  and  all  we  need  for  deep, 
utter  heart-rest,  which  no  surface  waves  of  this 
troublesome  world  can  disturb.1  What  gave  l  rest 
from  thy  sorrow  and  from  thy  fear  ' 2  at  the  very 
first,  when  we  wanted  salvation  and  peace?  It 
was  not  some  vague,  pleasing  impression,  some 
indefinable  hush  that  came  to  us  (or  if  it  was,  the 
unreality  of  the  rest  was  soon  proved),  but  some 
word  of  our  King  which  we  saw  to  be  worthy  of 
all  acceptation  ; 3  we  believed  it,4  and  by  it  Jesus 
gave  us  rest.5 

There  is  no  other  means  of  rest  for  all  the  way 
but  the  very  same.  The  moment  we  simply  be- 
lieve any  word  of  the  King,  we  find  that  it  is 
truly  '  for  rest/ 6  about  the  point  to  which  it 
refers.  And  if  we  would  but  go  on  taking  the 
King's  word  about  every  single  thing,  we  should 
always  find  it,  then  and  there,  '  for  rest.'  Every 
flutter  of  unrest  may,  if  we  look  honestly  into  it, 
be  traced  to  not  entirely  and  absolutely  taking 
the  King's  word.  His  words  are  enough  for  rest 
at  all  times,  and  in  all  circumstances  ;  therefore 
we  are  sinning  the  great  sin  of  unbelief  when- 

1  Job   xxxiv.  29.  s  lsa.  xiv.  3,  3  i  Tim.  i.  15. 

*  2  Thess.  ii.  13.  6  Heb.  iv.  2,  3.  •  Mark  ix.  23. 


THE  WORD  OF  THE  KING.  57 

ever  we  allow  ourselves  in  any  phase  of  unrest. 
It  is  not  infirmity,  but  sin,  to  neglect  to  make 
use  of  the  promises  which  He  meant  for  our 
strong  consolation  and  continual  help.1  And  we 
ought  not  to  a-  quiesce  in  the  shadows  which  are 
only  around  us,  because  we  do  not  hear,  or  hear- 
ing do  not  heed,  God's  call  into  the  sunshine. 

Take  the  slightest  and  commonest  instances. 
If  we  have  an  entire  and  present  belief  in  i  My 
grace  is  sufficient  for  thee, ' 2  or,  '  Lo,  I  am  with 
you  alway,' 3  should  we  feel  nervous  at  anything 
He  calls  us  to  do  for  Him?  Would  not  that 
word  be  indeed  '  for  rest '  4  in  the  moment  of 
need' — 'rest  from  the  hard  bondage'  of  service 
to  which  we  feel  unequal  ? 5  Have  we  not  some- 
times found  it  so,  and  if  so,  why  not  always  ?  I 
see  nothing  about  '  sometimes '  in  any  of  His 
promises.  If  we  have  an  entire  and  present  belief 
that  '  all  things  work  together  for  good/  6  or  that 
He  leads  us  '  forth  by  the  right  way,' 7  should  we. 
feel  worried  when  some  one  thing  seems  to  work 
wrong,  and  some  one  yard  of  the  way  is  not  what 
we  think  straightest  ? 

1  Heb.  vi,  18.  2  2  Cor.  xii.  9.  8  Matt,  xxviii.  20. 

4  Phil.  iv.  19.  6  Isa.  xiv.  3.  •  Rom.  viii.  28. 

T  Ps.  cvii.  7. 


58  MY  KING. 

We  lean  upon  the  word  of  the  King  for  ever- 
lasting life,1  why  not  for  daily  life  also  ?  For  it 
shall  '  now  be  for  rest ;'  only  try  it  to-day,  '  now/ 
and  see  if  it  shall  not  be  so !  When  he  says  '  per- 
fect peace,' 2  He  cannot  mean  imperfect  peace. 
*  The  people  rested  themselves  upon  the  words  of 
Hezekiah  king  of  Judah.' 3  Just  so  simply  let  us 
Test  upon  the  words  of  our  King,  Jesus  ! 


EIGHTEENTH   DAY. 

The  Business  of   the  King. 

*  The  king's  business  required  haste.'- — I  SAM.  xxi.  8. 

AND  yet  there  is  no  other  business  about  which 
average  Christians  take  it  so  easy.  They  ( must  '* 
go  their  usual  round,  they  '  must '  write  their  let- 
ters, they  '  must  '  pay  off  their  visits  and  other 
social  claims,  they  '  must '  do  all  that  is  expected 
of  them ;  and  then,  after  this  and  that  and  the 
other  thing  is  cleared  off,  they  will  do  what  they 
can  of  the  King's  business.5  They  do  not  say 
'  must '  about  that,  unless  it  is  some  part  of  His 
business  which  is  undertaken  at  second-hand,  and 

1  i  John  ii.  25.  a  isa.  xxvj   3>  3  2  Chron.  xxxii.  8. 

*  Luke  xir.  20.  6  Luke  ix.  59,  61. 


BUSINESS    OF  THE  KING.  59 

with  more  sense  of  responsibility  to  one's  clergy- 
man than  to  one's  King.  Is  this  being  '  faithful 
and  loyal  and  single  hear  led  ?'  l  If  it  has  been  so, 
oh,  let  it  be  so  no  more  !  How  can  '  Jesus  Onfy  1  2 
be  our  motto,  when  we  have  not  even  said  '  Jesus 
' 


The  King's  business  requires  haste.  It  is  al- 
ways pressing,  and  may  never  be  put  off.  Much 
of  it  has  to  do  with  souls  which  may  be  in  eter- 
nity to-morrow;'  *  and  with  opportunities  which 
are  gone  for  ever  if  not  used  then  and  there; 
there  is  no  '  convenient  season  '5  for  it  but  to-day.  *  6 
Often  it  is  not  really  done  at  all,  because  it  is 
not  done  in  the  spirit  of  holy  haste.  We  meet 
an  unconverted  friend  again  and  again,  and  beat 
about  the  bush,  and  think  to  gain  quiet  influence 
and  make  way  gradually,  and  call  it  judicious  not 
to  be  in  a  hurry,  when  the  real  reason  is  that  we 
are  wanting  in  holy  eagerness  and  courage  to  do 
the  King's  true  business  with  that  soul,  and  in 
nine  such  cases  out  of  ten  nothing  ever  comes 
out  of  it  ;  but  *  As  thy  servant  was  busy  here  and 
there,  he  was  gone.  '  7  Have  we  not  found  it  so  ? 

1  Eph.  vi.  5,  6.  2  Matt.  xvii.  8.  »  Matt.  vi.  33. 

*  Luke  xii.  20.  6  Acts  xxiv.  25.  6  Heb.  Hi.  13. 

7  z  Kings  xx.  40. 


60  MY  KING. 

Delay  in  the  Lord's  errands  is  next  to  dis- 
obedience, and  generally  springs  out  of  it,  or  is- 
sues in  it.  '  God  commanded  me  to  make  haste. '  l 
Let  us  see  to  it  that  we  can  say,  <  I  made  haste, 
and  delayed  not  to  keep  Thy  commandments.  * 

We  never  know  what  regret  and  punishment 
delay  in  the  King's  business  may  bring  upon 
ourselves.  Amasa  '  tarried  longer  than  the  set 
time  which  he  (the  king)  had  appointed  him,'3 
and  the  result  was  death  to  him-elf.  Contrast 
the  result  in  Abigail's  case,  where,  except  she 
had  hasted,  her  household  would  have  perished.4 

We  find  four  rules  for  doing  the  King's  busi- 
ness, in  His  word.  We  are  to  do  it, — first, 
'  Heartily  ;  ' 5  second,  '  Diligently  ,  ' 6  third, 
'  Faithfully ;' 7  fourth,  <  Speedily  :*  Let  us  ask 
Him  to  give  us  the  grace  of  energy  to  apply 
them  this  day  to  whatever  He  indicates  as  our 
part  of  His  business,  remembering  that  He  said 
'  I  must  be  about  my  Father's  business.' 9 

Especially  in  that  part  of  it  which  is  between 
Himself  and  ourselves  alone,  let  us  never  delay. 
Oh,  the  incalculable  blessings  that  we  have  al- 

1  2  Chron.  xxxv.  ax.  *  Ps.  cxix.  60.  3  2  Sam.  xx.  5. 

«  i  Sam.  xxv.  34.  6  Col.  iii.  23.  6  Ezra  vii.  23. 

*  2  Chron.  xxxiv.  12.  8  Ezra  vii.  ax.  *  Luke  ii.  49. 


READINESS  OF  THK   KING'S  SERVANTS-  6l 

ready  lost  by  putting  off  our  own  dealings  with 
our  King  !  Abigail  first  '  made  haste  ' l  to  meet 
David  for  mere  safety;  soon  afterwards,  she 
again  'hasted  and  arose  and  went  after  the  mes- 
sengers of  David,  and  became  his  wife.' 2 

Thus  hasting,  we  shall  rise  from  privilege  to 
privilege,  and  '  go  from  strength  to  strength.  '3 

What  shall  be  our  word  fcr  Jesus  ?     Master,  give  it  day  by 

day; 

Ever  as  the  need  arises,  teach  Thy  children  what  to  say. 
Give  us  holy  love  and  patience ;  grant  us  deep  humiiity, 
That  of  self  we  may  be  emptied,  and  our  hearts  be  full  of 

Thee; 
Give  us  zeal  and  faith  and  fervor,  make  us  winning,  make 

us  wise, 
Single-hearted,  strong  and  fearless; — Thou  habt  called  us, 

we  will  rise ! 

Let  the  might  of  Thy  good  Spirit  go  with  every  loving  word ; 
And  by  hearts  prepared  and  opened,  be  our  message  always 

heard. 


NINETEENTH  DAY. 
The  Readiness  of  the  King's  Servants. 

'  Thy  servants  are  ready  to   do  whatsover  my  lord  the 
king  shall  appoint. ' — 2  SAM.  xv.  15. 

THIS  is  the  secret  of  steady  and  unruffled  glad- 
ness in  '  the  business  of  the  Lord,  and  the  ser- 

1  x  Sam.  xxv.  18.  a  x  Sam.  xxv.  42.  s  Ps.  Ixxxiv.  7. 


62  MY  KING. 

vice  of  the  King, ' l  whether  we  are  '  over  the 
treasures  of  the  house  of  God/  2  or,  '  for  the  out- 
ward business  over  Israel.'3 

It  makes  all  the  difference  !  If  we  are  really, 
and  always,  and  equally  ready  to  do  whatsoever* 
the  King  appoints,  all  the  trials  and  vexations 
arising  from  any  change  in  His  appointments, 
great  or  small,  simply  do  not  exist.  If  He  ap- 
points me  to  work  there,  shall  I  lament  that  I 
am  not  to  work  here  ? 5.  If  he  appoints  me  to 
wait  indoors  to-day,  am  I  to  be  annoyed  because 
I  am  not  to  work  out-of-doors?  If  I  meant  to 
write  His  message  this  morning,  shall  I  grumble 
because  He  sends  interrupting  visitors,  rich  or 
poor,  to  whom  I  am  to  speak  them  or  <  show 
kindness  '6  for  His  sake,  '  or  at  least  obey  His 
command,  'Be  courteous?7  If  all  my  'mem- 
bers ' 8  are  really  at  His  disposal,  why  should  I 
be  put  out  if  to-day's  appointment  is  some  simple 
work  for  my  hands  or  errands  for  my  feet,  in- 
stead of  some  seemingly  more  important  doing 
of  head  or  tongue? 

Does  it  seem  a  merely  ideal  life?     Try  it !    be 

1  i  Chron.  xxvi.  30.        «  i  Chron.  xxvi.  20.     3  x  Chron   xxvi.  29. 
*  John  ii.  5.  6  Josh.  i.  16.  •  z  Sam.  ix.  3. 

»  i  Pet.  tii.  8.  8  Rom.  vi.  13. 


THE  READINESS  OF  THE  KING'S  SERVANTS.       63 

gin  at  once ;  before  you  venture  away  from  this 
quiet  moment,  ask  your  King  to  take  you 
'  wholly '  into  His  service,  and  place  all  the 
hours  of  this  day  quite  simply  at  His  disposal, 
and  ask  Him  to  make  and  keep  you  ready  to  do 
just  exactly  what  He  appoints.  Never  mind 
about  to-morrow  ; l  one  day  at  a  time  is  enough. 
Try  it  to-day,  and  see  if  it  is  not  a  day  of 
strange,  almost  curious  peace,  so  sweet  that  you 
will  be  only  too  thankful,  when  to-morrow 
comes,  to  ask  Him  to  take  it  also, — till  it  will  be- 
come a  blessed  habit  to  hold  yourself  simply  and 
'  wholly  at  Thy  commandment '  '  for  any  manner 
of  service. ' 2 

Then  will  come,  too,  an  indescribable  and  un- 
expected sense  of  freedom,  and  a  total  relief 
from  the  self-imposed  bondage  of  '  having  to  get 
through  '  what  we  think  lies  before  us.  For,  '  of 
the  children  of  Israel  did  Solomon  make  no 
bondmen.' 3 

Then,  too,  by  thus  being  ready,  moment  by 
moment,  for  whatsoever  He  shall  appoint,  we 
realize  very  much  more  that  we  are  not  left 
alone,  but  that  we  are  dwelling  '  with  the  King 

l  Jas.  iv.  14.  *  i  Chron.  xxviii.  ai.  •  i  Kings  ix.  aa. 


64  MY  KING. 

for  His  work. '  *  Thus  the  very  fact  of  an  other- 
wise vexatious  interruption  is  transmuted  into  a 
precious  proof  of  the  nearness  of  the  King.2 
His  interference  implies  His  interest  and  His 
presence. 

The  '  whatsoever '  is  not  necessarily  active 
work.  It  may  be  waiting  (whether  half  an  hour 
or  half  a  lifetime),  learning,  suffering,  sitting 
still.  But,  dear  fellow-servants  of  'my  Lord  the 
King,'  shall  we  be  less  ready  for  these,  if  any  of 
them  are  His  appointments  for  to-day  ?  *  What- 
soever the  king  did  pleased  all  the  people. ' 3 

1  Ready '  implies  something  of  preparation,  - 
not  being  taken  by  surprise.  So  let  us  ask  Him 
to  prepare  us  for  all  that  He  is  preparing  for  us. 
And  may  '  the  hand  of  God  give  '  us  'one  heart 
to  do  the  commandment  of  the  King  !  u 

*  Lord,  I  have  given  my  life  to  Thee, 
And  every  day  and  hour  is  Thine ; 

What  Thou  appointest  let  them  be  ; 
Thy  will  is  better,  Lord,  than  mine. 

A.  L.  WARING. 

1  x  Chron.  iv.  23.  a  ps.  cxxxix.  5. 

§  2.  Sam.  iii.  36.  4  3  Chron.  xxx.  xa. 


FRIENDSHIP  OF  THF,  KING.  65 

TWENTIETH    DAY. 
The  Friendship  of  the  King. 

*  He  that  loveth  pureness  of  heart,  for  the  grace  of  his 
lips  the  king  shall  be  his  friend.' — PROV.  xxii.  n. 

1  WHO  can  say,  I  have  made  my  heart  clean,  I 
am  pure '  ?  *  Who  must  not  despair  of  the 
friendship  of  the  King  if  this  were  the  condi- 
tion?2 But  His  wonderful  condescension  in 
promising  Kis  friendship  bends  yet  lower  in  its 
tenderly  devised  condition.  Not  to  the  abso- 
lutely pure  in  heart,8  but  to  the  perhaps  very  sor- 
rowfully longing  lover  of  that  pureness,  come  the 
gracious  words,  l  The  King  shall  be  his  Friend.7 

Yet  there  must  be  some  proof  of  this  love ; 
and  it  is  found  in  '  the  grace  of  His  lips.'  '  For 
out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth 
speaketh.'4  Here,  again,  we  stop  and  question 
our  claim  ;  for  our  speech  has  not  always  been 
'  with  grace  ; ' 5  and  the  memory  of  many  a  grace- 
less and  idle  word  rises  to  bar  it.6  How  then 
shall  the  King  be  our  Friend  ?  Another  word 
comes  to  our  help:  *  Grace  is  poured  into  thy 

l  Prov.  xx.  9.  *  Hab.  i.  13.  »  Matt.  v.  8. 

*  Matt.  xii.  34.  *  Col.  iv.  6.  •  Matt.  xii.  36. 

5 


66  MY  KING. 

lips/  l  grace  that  overflowed  in  gracious  words,'2 
such  as  never  man  spake,3  perfectly  holy  and 
beautiful ;  and  we  look  up  to  our  King  and  plead 
that  He  has  Himself  fulfilled  the  condition  in 
which  we  have  failed,  —  that  this  is  part  of  the 
righteousness  which  He  wrought  for  us,  and 
which  is  really  unto  us  and  upon  us,  because  we 
believe  in  Him  ; 4  and  so,  for  the  grace  of  His 
own  lips,  the  King  shall  be  our  Friend. 

Who  has  not  longed  for  an  ideal  and  yet  a  real 
friend, — one  who  should  exactly  understand  us5  to 
whom  we  could  tell  everything,6  and  in  whom  we 
could  altogether  confide, — one  who  should  be 
very  wise  and  very  true,7-  one  of  whose  love  and 
unfailing  interest  we  could  be  certain  ?8  There 
are  other  points  for  which  we  could  not  hope, — 
that  this  friend  should  be  very  far  above  us,  and 
yet  the  very  nearest  and  dearest,  always  with  us.9 
always  thinking  of  us,  always  doing  kind  and 
wonderful  things  for  us  ;10  undertaking  and  man- 
aging everything  ;u  forgetting  nothing,  failing  in 
nothing;12  quite  certain  never  to  change  and 

1  Ps.  xlv.  2.  2  Luke  iv.  22.  3  John  vii.  46. 

«  Rom.  iii.  22.  6  Ps.  cxxxix.  2.  6  Mark  vi.  3-, 

1  Rev.  xix.  ii.  8  John  xiii.  i.  9  Matt,  xxxviii    «o. 

»  Ps.  xl.  17.  u  Isa.  xxxvii'..  14.  12  Zeph.  iii.  $. 


THE  KING'S  COUNTENANCE-  67 

never  to  die,1 — so  that  this  one  grand  friendship 
should  fill  our  lives,  and  that  we  really  never  need 
trouble  about  anything  for  ourselves  any  more  at 
all.2 

Such  is  our  Royal  Friend,  and  more ;  for  no 
human  possibilities  of  friendship  can  illustrate 
what  He  is  to  those  to  whom  He  says,  ' '  Ye  are 
my  friends."  3  We,  even  we,  may  look  up  to  our 
glorious  King,  our  Lord  and  our  God,  and  say, 
'  This  is  my  Beloved,  and  this  is  my  Friend  !  ' 4 
And  then  we,  even  we,  may  claim  the  privilege 
of  being  '  the  King's  companion '  5  and  the 
King's  friend. ' 6 


TWENTY  FIRST  DAY. 
The  Light  of  the  King's  Countenance, 

*  In  the  light  of  the  king's  countenance  is  life.' — PROV. 
xvi.  15. 

BUT  first  fell  the  solemn  words,  '  Thou  hast  set 
our  secret  sins  in  the  light  of  Thy  countenance. ' T 
That  was  the  first  we  knew  of  its  brightness ;  and 
to  some  its  revelation  has  been  so  terrible,  that 

1  Mai.  iii.  6.  3  i  Pet.  v.  7.  8  John  xv.  14. 

*  Cant.  v.  16.  6  i  Chron.  xxvii.  33.     «  i  Kings  iv.  5. 

T  Ps.  xc.  8. 


68  MY  KING. 

they  can  even  understand  how  the  Lord  '  shall 
destroy  '  the  wicked  '  with  the  brightness  of  His 
coming. ' l  Yet,  though  we  feel  that  '  His  eyes 
were  as  a  flame  of  fire,' 2  we  found  also  that  our 
'  King  that  sitteth  in  the  throne  of  judgment, 
scattereth  away  all  evil  with  His  eyes ;  ' 3  and 
that  it  was  when  we  stood  in  that  light,  that  we 
found  the  power  of  the  precious  blood  of  Jesus, 
the  Anointed  One,  to  cleanse  us  from  all  sin.* 

This  gives  new  value  to  the  promise,  They  shall 
walk,  O  Lord,  in  the  light  of  Thy  countenance ;  ' 5 
for  it  is  when  we  walk  in  the  light  that  we  may 
claim  and  do  realize  the  fulness  of  its  power  and 
preciousness, — not  for  fitful  and  occasional  cleans- 
ing, but  for  a  glorious,  perpetual,  present  cleansing 
from  all  sin.  Do  not  let  us  translate  it  into 
another  tense  for  ourselves,  and  read, 6  *  did 
cleanse  last  time  we  knelt  and  asked  for  it,'  but 
keep  to  the  tense  which  the  Holy  Ghost  has 
written,  and  meet  the  foe-flung  darts  of  doubt 7 
with  faith's  great  answer,  '  The  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  His  Son  cleanseth  (/.  e.  goes  on  cleansing) 
us  from  all  sin.' 

1  2  Thess  ii  8.  2  Rev.  i.  14.  8  Prov.  xx.  8. 

*  x  John  i.  7.  *  Ps.  Ixxxix.  15.        «  Rev.  xxii.  16,  19. 

7  Eph.  vi.  16. 


THE  KING'S  COUNTENANCE.  69 

Thus  the  light  of  His  countenance  shall  save  us. 
Ivook  at  Ps.  xliv.  3,  where  we  see  it  as  the  means 
of  past  salvation, l  and  then  at  Ps.  xlii.  5,  where 
the  Psalmist  anticipates  praise  for  its  future  help ; 2 
while  the  two  are  beautifully  linked  by  the  mar- 
ginal reading  of  the  latter,  which  makes  it  present 
salvation  :  '  Thy  presence  is  salvation.' 

Then  follows  peace.  The  waves  are  stilled, 
and  the  storm-clouds  flee  away  noiselessly  and 
swiftly  and  surely,  when  He  lifts  up  the  light  of 
His  countenance  upon  us,  and  gives  us  peace.3 
For  this  uplifting  is  the  shining  forth  of  His 
favor,4 — the  smile  instead  of  the  frown ;  and  as 
we  walk  in  the  light  of  it,  the  peace  will  grow 
into  joy,  and  we  shall  be  even  here  and  now  *  ex- 
ceeding glad  with  Thy  countenance,'5  while 
every  step  will  bring  us  nearer  to  the  resurrection 
joy  of  Christ  Himself,  saying  with  Him,  <  Thou 
shalt  make  me  full  of  joy  with  Thy  counte- 
nance.'6 

So  we  shall  find  day  by  day,  that  in  the  light 
of  the  King's  countenance  is  cleansing,  salvation, 
peace,  joy ; — and  do  not  these  make  up  life,  the 

1  Ps.  xliv.  3,  *  Ps.  xlii.  5.  3  Num.  vi  26. 

*  a  Sam.  xxiii.  4.  *  Ps.  xxi.  6.  «  Acts  ii.  28. 


70  MY  KING. 

new  life,  the  glad  life  of  the  children  of  the 
King? 

'  Lord,  lift  Thou  up  the  light  of  Thy  counten- 
ance upon  us  ' l  this  day,  and  in  it  let  us  have 
life,  yea,  '  Life  more  abundantly. '  2 

'  He  that  followeth  me  shall  not  walk  in  dark- 
ness, but  shall  have  the  light  of  life.' 3 

TWENTY-SECOND  DAY. 

The  Tenderness  of  the  King. 

'  And  the  king  commanded,  saying,  Deal  gently  for  my 
sake  with  the  young  man,  even  with  Absalom.' — 2  SAM. 
xviii.  5. 

Even  with  Absalom !  Even  with  the  heartless, 
deliberate  traitor  and  rebel.4  We  must  recollect 
clearly  what  he  was,  to  appreciate  the  exquisite 
tenderness  of  David  in  such  a  command  to  his 
rough  war  captains  in  such  untender  times.  For 
the  sake  of  his  people  and  his  kingdom,  he  must 
send  them  forth  against  him,  but  the  deep  love 
gushes  out  in  the  bidding,  '  Deal  gently  for  my 
sake/ 

It  was  no  new  impulse.  When  Amnon  was 
murdered,  the  king  'wept  very  sore,'  and 

l  Ps.  iv.  6.  2  John  x.  10. 

3  John  viii.  12.  *  2  Sam.  xv.  a-ri. 


TENDERNESS  OF  THE   KING.  71 

f  mourned  for  his  son  every  day,'  l  and  yet,  when 
the  fratricide  had  fled,  '  the  soul  of  King  David 
longed  to  go  forth  unto  him/2  and  '  the  king's 
heart  was  toward  Absalom/3  And  when  God's 
own  vengeance  fell  upon  the  wicked  son,  David's 
lamentation  over  hin.  Is  perhaps  unparalleled  in 
its  intensity  of  pathos  among  the  records  of 
human  tenderness.4 

Turn  to  the  Antitype,  and  see  the  divine  ten- 
derness of  our  King.  Again  and  again  it  gleams 
out,  whether  He  himself  wept,  or  whether  He 
said,  '  Weep  not/  5 — whether  in  the  tender  look, 
the  tender  word,  or  the  tender  touch  of  gentlest 
mercy.  The  Gospels  are  full  of  His  tenderness. 
There  is  not  room  here  even  for  the  bare  mention 
of  the  instances  of  it ;  but  will  you  not  give  a 
little  time  to  searching  quietly  for  them,  so  that, 
reading  them  under  the  teaching  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,6  you  may  get  a  concentrated  view  of  the 
wonderful  tenderness  of  Jesus,  and  yield  your 
heart  to  be  moved  by  it,  and  your  spirit  to  be  so 
penetrated  by  it,  that  you  may  share  it  and  reflect 
it  ?  Remember  that  in  such  a  search  we  learn 

l  2  Sam.  xiii.  36,  37.  *  2  Sam.  xiii.  39.  8  2  Sam.  xiv.  i. 

*  2  Sam.  xviii.  33.  6  Luke  xix.  41 ;  ib.  vii  13  ;  ib.  xxii.  61 

*  John  xiv.  26. 


72  MY  KING. 

not  only  what  He  did  and  said,  nor  only  what  He 
was,  but  what  he  is  ;  and  in  all  His  recorded  ten- 
derness we  are  looking  into  the  present  heart  of 
Jesus,  and  seeing  what  we  shall  find  for  ourselves 
as  we  have  need.  For  He  is  '  this  same  Jesus  ' ? 
to-day. 

Then  let  us  glance  at  the  volume  of  our  own 
experience.  Who  that  has  had  any  dealings  with 
Christ  at  all,  but  must  bear  witness  that  He  has 
indeed  dealt  gently  with  us.  Has  not  even  suf- 
fering been  sweet  when  it  showed  us  more  of 
this  ? 2  What  if  He  had  ever  '  dealt  with  us  after 
our  sins  M  3  But  he  never  did,  and  never  will.4 
He  hath  dealt  gently  and  will  deal  gently  with 
us,  for  His  own  sake,  and  according  to  His  own 
heart,  from  the  first  drawings  of  His  loving- 
kindness,  on  throughout  the  measurless  develop- 
ments of  his  everlasting  love.5  Not  till  we  are 
in  heaven  shall  we  know  the  full  meaning  of  '  Thy 
gentleness  hath  made  me  great/6 

May  we  not  recognize  a  command  in  this,  as 
well  as  a  responsibility  to  follow  the  example  of 
the  gentleness  of  Christ?7  Perhaps  next  time 

1  Acts  i.  n.         2  Lam.  iii.  32.          *  Ps.  ciii.  10.        *  Job  xi.  6. 
•  Jer.  xxxi.  3.     «  Ps.  xviii.  35.         *  2  Cor  x.  x. 


TOKEN  OF  THE  KING'S  GRACE.  73 

we  are  tempted  to  be  a  little  harsh  or  hasty  with 
an  erring  or  offending  one,  the  whisper  will  come, 
*  Deal  gently,  for  My  sake  !' 

Return  ! 

O  erring,  yet  beloved  ! 
I  wait  to  bind  thy  bleeding  feet,  for  keen 
And  rankling  are  the  thorns  where  thou  hast  been ; 
I  wait  to  give  thee  pardon,  love,  and  rest. 
(Is  not  my  joy  to  see  thee  safe  and  blest  ?) 
Return !     I  wait  to  hear  once  more  thy  voice, 
To  welcome  thee  anew,  and  bid  thy  heart  rejoice ! 

Return ! 

O  chosen  of  my  love ! 

Fear  not  to  meet  thy  beckoning  Saviour's  view; 
Long  ere  I  called  thee  by  thy  name,  I  knew 
That  very  treacherously  thou  wouldst  deal ; 
Now  I  have  seen  thy  ways, — yet  I  will  heal. 
Return  !  Wilt  thou  yet  linger  far  from  Me? 
My  wrath  is  turned  away,  I  have  redeemed  thee ! 


TWENTY-THIRD     DAY. 
The   Token   of  the  King's  Grace. 

'  To-day  thy  servant  knoweth  that  I  have  found  grace  in 
thy  sight,  my  lord,  O  king,  in  that  the  king  hath  fulfilled 
the  request  of  his  servant.' — 2  SAM.  xiv.  22. 

AN  answered  prayer  makes  us  glad  for  its  own 
sake.  But  there  is  grace  behind  the  gift  which 


74  MY  KING. 

is  better  and  more  gladdening  than  the  gift  itself, 
For  which  is  most  valued,  the  '  engaged  ring/  or 
the  favor  of  which  it  is  the  token  ?  Setting  aside 
judicial  answers  to  unspiritual  prayers,1  which  an 
honest  conscience  will  have  no  difficulty  in  dis- 
tinguishing, the  servants  of  the  King  may  take  it 
that  His  answers  to  their  requests  are  proofs  and 
tokens  of  His  grace  and  favor,2 — of  His  real,  and 
present,  and  personal  love  to  themselves  indi- 
vidually. 

When  they  are  receiving  few  or  none,  they 
should  search  for  the  cause,  lest  it  should  be  some 
hidden  or  unrecognized  sin.3  For  '  if  I  regard 
iniquity  in  my  heart,  the  Lord  will  not  hear  me ; 4 
so  never  let  us  go  on  comfortably  and  easily  when 
He  is  silent  to  us.  And  instead  of  envying  others 
who  get  '  such  wonderful  answers, '  '  let  us  search 
and  try  our  ways.  ' 5 

Personal  acceptance  comes  first.  We  must  be 
'  accepted  in  the  Beloved ' 6  before  we  can  look 
to  be  answered  through  the  Beloved.  Is  there  a 
doubt  about  this,  and  a  sigh  over  the  words? 
There  need  not  be  ;  for  now,  at  this  moment,  the 

1  Ps.  cvi.  15  ;  Hos.  xiii.  n,  etc.        2  i  John  iii.  22.       3  Job  x.  2. 
*  i  Sam.  xxviii.  6;  Ps.  xix.  12  ;  ib.  Ixvi.  18.  6  Lam.  iii.  40. 

«  Eph.  i.  6. 


TOKEN  OF  THE  KING'S  GRACE?.  75 

old  promise  stands  with  its  unchangeable  wel- 
come to  the  weary  :  <  Him  that  cometh  to  me  I 
will  in  no  wise  cast  out/  l  Then,  if  you  come, 
now,  at  this  moment,  on  the  strength  of  His  word, 
you  cannot  be  rejected ;  and  if  not  rejected,  there 
is  nothing  but  one  blessed  alternative — '  ac- 
cepted ! ' 

Then  come  the  answers !  As  surely  as  the 
prayers  go  up  from  the  accepted  one,  so  surely 
will  the  blessings  come  down.  When  Esther  had 
touched  the  golden  sceptre,  '  then  said  the  king 
unto  her,  What  wilt  thou,  queen  Esther  ?  and 
what  is  thy  request  ?  it  shall  be  even  given  thee 
to  the  half  of  the  kingdom.'2  But  is  there  no 
'half  in  our  King's  promise.  He  says,  'All 
things '  and  '  whatsoever.3  And  He  does  '  do 
exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  we  ask 
or  think/  and  more  than  fulfils  our  little  scanty 
requests.* 

And  then,  by  every  fresh  fulfilment  we  should 
receive  ever  new  assurance  of  our  acceptance, — 
then  (shall  it  not  be  c  to-day'  ?),  as  we  give  thanks 
for  each  gracious  answer,  we  may  look  up  con- 

1  John  vi.  37 ;  Heb.  vii.  25.  *  Esth.  v.  3. 

3  Matt.  xxi.  22 ;  John  xiv.  13.  4  Eph.  iii.  20  ;  i  Kings  x.  13. 


76  MY   KING. 

fidingly  and  joyfully,  and  say,  'Thy  servant 
knoweth  that  I  have  found  grace  in  thy  sight/ 
For  He  says,  '  See,  I  have  hearkened  to  thy  voice, 
and  have  accepted  thy  person.'1 

Accepted,  Perfect,  and  Complete,2 
For  God's  inheritance  made  meet ! 3 
How  true,  how  glorious,  and  how  sweet !  * 


TWENTY-FOURTH    DAY. 
The    Omniscience   of  the    King. 
'  There  is  no  matter  hid  from  the  king.' — 2  SAM.  xviii.  13. 

THE  very  attributes  which  are  full  of  terror  to 
'  the  King's  enemies,' 5  are  full  of  comfort  to  the 
King  s  friends.  Thus  His  omniscience  is  like  the 
pillar,  which  was  '  a  cloud  and  darkness  '  to  the 
Egyptians,  but  '  gave  light  by  night '  to  the  Is- 
raelites.6 

The  king's  own  General  complained  of  a  man 
who  did  not  act  precisely  as  he  himself  would 
have  acted.  In  his  reply  he  uses  these  words, 
'There  is  no  matter  hid  from  the  king. '  The  appeal 
was  final,  and  Joab  had  no  more  to  say.  When 
others  say,  like  Joab,  '  "  Wtiy  didst  tho  \  not  "  do 
so  and  so  ?'  and  we  know  or  find  that  full  reasons 

1  i  Sam.  xxv.  35.  2  Eph.  i.  6.  '     3  O>1.  i.  28. 

«  Col.ii.  10.  6  Ps.  xlv.  5.  «  Ex.  xiv.  20. 


OMNISCIENCE  OF  THE  KING.  77 

cannot  be  given  or  cannot  be  understood,  what 
rest  it  is  to  fall  back  upon  the  certainty  that  our 
King  knows  all  about  it !  When  we  are  wearied 
out  with  trying  to  make  people  understand,  how 
restful  it  is  that  no  explanations  are  wanted  when 
we  come  to  speak  to  Him  !  1  '  All  things  are 
naked  and  opened  unto  the  eyes  of  Him  with  whom 
we  have  to  do  ; 2  and  the  more  we  have  to  do  with 
Him,  the  more  glad  and  thankful  we  shall  be  that 
there  '  is  not  anything  '  hid  from  the  King.3 

In  perplexities, —when  we  cannot  understand 
what  is  going  on  around  us— cannot  tell  whither 
events  are  tending — cannot  tell  what  to  do,  be- 
cause we  cannot  see  into  or  through  the  matter 
before  us, — let  us  be  calmed  and  steadied  and 
made  patient  by  the  thought  that  what  is  hidden 
from  us  is  not  hidden  from  Him.  If  He  chooses 
to  guide  us  blindfold,  let  Him  do  it ! 4  It  will 
not  make  the  least  difference  to  the  reality  and 
Tightness  of  the  guidance.5 

In  mysteries, — when  we  see  no  clue — when  we 
cannot  at  all  understand  God's  partial  revelation 
— when  we  cannot  lift  the  veil  that  hangs  before 

1  Job  xxi:i.  10.  *  Heb.  iv.i3.  8  i  Kings  x.  3. 

4  Isa.  xlii.  16.  6  Ps.  cvii.  7. 


78  MY  KING. 

His  secret  counsel — when  we  cannot  pierce  the 
holy  darkness  that  enshrouds  His  ways,  or  tread 
the  great  deep  of  His  judgments  where  His  foot- 
steps are  not  known,1 — is  it  not  enough  that  even 
these  matters  are  not  hid  from  our  King  ?  *  My 
father  will  do  nothing,  either  great  or  small,  but 
he  will  show  it  me. ' 2  '  For  the  Father  loveth 
the  Son,  and  showeth  Him  all  things  that  Him- 
self doeth.'  3 

Our  King  could  so  easily  reveal  everything  to 
us.  and  make  everything  so  clear  !  It  would  be 
nothing  to  Him  to  tell  us  all  our  questions. 
When  He  does  not,  cannot  we  trust  Him,  and 
just  be  satisfied  that  He  knows,  and  would  tell  us 
if  it  were  best  ?  He  has  '  many  things  to  say  ' 
unto  us,  but  He  waits  till  we  can  bear  them.4 

May  we  be  glad  that  even  our  sins  are  '  not 
hid '  from  Him  ?  Yes,  surely,  for  He  who 
knows  all  can  and  will  cleanse  all.  He  has 
searched  us  and  known  us, 5  as  we  should  shrink 
from  knowing  ourselves,  and  yet  He  has  pardoned, 
and  yet  he  loves !  6 

1  Ps.  xcvii.  2 ;  ib.  xxxvi.  6 ;  ib.  Ixxxvii.  19.  2  r  Sam.  xx.  2. 

3  John  v.  20.  4  John  xvi.  12. 

6  Ps.  cxxxix.  x.  6  isa.  xiviii.  8. 


POWER  OF  THE  KING'S  WORD.  79 

TWENTY-FIFTH  DAY. 

The  Power  of  the  King's  Word. 

5  Where  the  word  of  a  king  is,  there  is  power.' — ECCL.  viii.  4. 

THEN  the  question  is,  Where  is  it  ?  '  Let  the 
word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly/1  and  '  there/ 
even  '  in  you/  will  be  power. 

The  Crowned  One,  who  is  now  '  upholding  all 
things  by  the  word  of  His  power/2  hath  said,  '  I 
have  given  them  Thy  word. ' 3  And  those  who 
have  received  this  great  gift,  '  not  as  the  word  of 
men,  but,  as  it  is  in  truth,  the  word  of  God/ 
know  that  ( there  is  power  '  with  it,  because  it 
f  effectually  worketh  also  '  in  them.4 

They  know  its  life-giving  power,  for  they  can 
say,  '  Thy  word  hath  quickened  me ;  ' 5  and  its 
life-sustaining  power,  for  they  live  '  by  every 
word  that  proceeded  out  of  the  mouth  of  God/  6 
They  can  say,  '  Thy  word  have  I  hid  in  my  heart, 
that  I  might  not  sin  against  Thee ;  ' 7  for  in  pro- 
portion as  the  word  of  the  king  is  present  in  the 
heart,  '  there  is  power  ' 8  against  sin.  Then  let 

i  Col.  iii.  16.  »  Heb.  ii.  9  ;  ib.  i.  3.        «  John  xvii.  14. 

*  i  Thess.  ii.  13  *  Ps.  cxix.  50.  «  Matt.  iv.  4. 

*  Ps.  cxix.  ii.  8  John  vi.  63. 


&G  MY  KING. 

us  use  this  means  of  absolute  power  more,  and 
more  life  and  more  holiness  will  be  ours. 

'  His  word  was  with  power  ' l  in  Capernaum  of 
old,  and  it  will  be  with  the  same  power  in  any 
place  now-a-days.  His  word  cannot  fail  ;  it 
'  shall  not  return  void  ;  '  it  '  shall  prosper.'2 
Therefore,  when  our  '  words  fall  to  the  ground/  8 
it  only  proves  that  they  were  not  His  words.  So 
what  we  want  is  not  merely  that  His  power  may 
accompany  our  word,  but  that  we  may  not  speak 
our  own  at  all,  but  simply  and  only  the  very 
'  word  of  the  King.'  Then  there  will  be  power 
in  and  with  it.  Bows  drawn  at  a  venture 4  hit  in 
a  way  that  astonishes  ourselves,  when  God  puts 
His  own  arrows  on  the  string  ' 5 

There  is  great  comfort  and  help  in  taking  this 
literally.  Why  ask  a  little  when  we  may  ask 
much  ?  The  very  next  time  we  want  to  speak  or 
write  '  a  word  for  Jesus  '  (and  of  course  that 
ought  to  be  to-day),6  let  us  ask  Him  to  give  us 
not  merely  a  general  idea  what  to  say,  but  to 
give  us  literally  every  single  word,  and  '  they 
shall  be  withal  fitted  in  thy  lips. ' 7 

1  Luke  iv.  32.  2  Isa4  Jv.  n.  3  j  Sam.  iii.  19. 

*  i  Kwgs  xxii.  34.  6  Ps.  xlv.  5.  •  Heb.  iii.  13. 

*  Prov.  xxii.  18. 


POWKR  OF  THE  KING'S  WORD.  8 1 

For  He  will  not  say,  '  Thou  hast  asked  a  hard 
thing/  l  though  it  is  far  more  than  asking  for  the 
mantle  of  any  prophet.  He  says,  '  Behold,  I 
have  put  My  words  in  thy  mouth.'2  This  was 
not  for  Jeremiah  alone,  for  soon  after  we  read, 
'  He  that  hath  My  word,  let  him  speak  My  word 
faithfully ' 3  (for  we  must  not  overlook  our  re- 
sponsibility in  the  matter)  ;  and  then  follows  the 
grand  declaration  of  its  power,  even  when  spoken 
by  feeble  human  lips  ;  '  Is  not  My  word  like  as  a 
fire  ?  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  like  a  hammer  that 
breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  ?  '  *  '  Behold,  I  will 
make  My  words  in  thy  mouth  fire. '  5 

If  we  are  not  even  '  sufficient  of  ourselves  to 
think  anything  as  of  ourselves,' 6  how  much  less  to 
speak  anything  !  '  Have  I  now  any  power  at  all 
to  say  anything  ?  The  word  that  God  putteth  in 
my  mouth,  that  shall  I  speak.'  7  We  would 
rather  have  it  so,  '  that  the  excellency  of  the 
power  maybe  of  God,  and  not  of  us.'8  Our 
ascended  King  has  said,  '  All  power  is  given  unto 
Me.  Go  ye  therefore. ' 9  That  is  enough  for 
me  ;  and  '  I  trust  in  thy  word/  10 

l  2  Kings  ii.  10  8  Jer.  i.  9.       3  Jer.  xxiii.  28.       <  Jer.  xxiii.  29. 
6  Jer.  v.  14.  6  2  Cor.  iii.  5.  ^  Num.  xxii.  38. 

8  2  Cor.  iv.  7.  9  Matt,  xxviii.  18,  19.     w  Ps.  cxix.  42 

6 


32  MY   KING. 

Resting  on  the  faithfulness  of  Christ  our  Lord, 
Resting  on  the  fulness  of  His  own  sure  word, 
Resting  on  His  power,  on  His  love  untold, 
Resting  on  His  covenant  secured  of  old. 


TWENTY-SIXTH  DAY. 
The  Name  of  the  King. 

*  A  King  shall  reign.  And  this  is  His  name  whereby 
He  shall  be  called,  THE  LORD  OUR  RIGHTEOUS- 
NESS.'— JER.  xxiii.  5,  6. 

WE  cannot  do  without  this  most  wonderful 
name.  It  can  never  be  an  old  story  to  us.  It  is 
always  a  '  new  name '  1  in  freshness  and  beauty 
and  power.  It  is  our  daily  need  and  our  daily 
joy.  For  strength  it  is  indeed  '  a  strong  tower  ; 
the  righteous  runneth  into  it,  and  is  safe.' 2  For 
sweetness  it  is  <  as  ointment  poured  forth. '  3  In 
it  we  see  at  once  the  highest  height  and  the 
deepest  depth  ;  Jehovah,  God  of  God,  Light  of 
Light,  and  our  need  of  a  righteousness  which  is 
not  our  own  at  all,  because  we  have  none.  We 
stand  as  upon  an  Alpine  slope,  face  to  face  with 
the  highest,  grandest,  purest  summit  above,  and 
the  darkest,  deepest  valley  below,  seeing  more  of 

l  Rev.  iii.  12.  *  Prov.  xviii.  10.  a  Cant.  i.  3. 


NAME;  OF  THE  KING.  83 

the  height  because  of  the  depth,  and  more  of  the 
depth  because  of  the  height. 

Jesus  our  King  '  hath  by  inheritance  obtained 
a  more  excellent  name  ' *  than  angels,  for  His 
Father  has  given  Him  his  own  name, — ( He  shall 
be  called  Jehovah.' 2  '  But  this  alone  would  be  too 
great,  too  far  off  for  us  ;  it  might  find  echoes 
among  the  harpings  of  sinless  angels,  but  not 
among  the  sighings  of  sinful  souls.  And  so  the 
name  was  completed  for  us,  by  the  very  word 
that  expresses  our  truest,  deepest,  widest,  most 
perpetual  need,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  revealed 
the  Son  of  God  to  us  as  '  Jehovah  our  Righteous- 
ness. ' 

Do  not  let  us  be  content  with  theoretically  un- 
derstanding and  correctly  holding  the  doctrine  of 
justification  by  faith.  Turn  from  the  words  to 
the  reality,  from  the  theory  to  the  Person,  and  as 
a  little,  glad,  wondering  child,  look  at  the  simple, 
wonderful  truth  That  '  the  Righteousness  of 
God  '  (how  magnificent !)  is  '  unto  all  and  upon 
all  them  that  believe;'3  therefore,  at  this  very 
moment,  unto  and  upon  you  and  me,  instead  of 
our  own  filthy  rags,4  so  that  we  stand  clothed  and 

i  Heb.  i.  4.  *  Jer.  xxiii.  6,  marg.  »  Rom.  Ui.  22. 

<  Isa.  Ixiv.  6. 


84  MY   KING. 

beautiful1  in  the  very  sight  of  God,  now ;  and 
Jesus  can  say,  l  Thou  art  all  fair,  my  love, '  2  now  ! 
That  it  is  not  any  finite  righteousness,  which 
might  not  quite  cover  the  whole, — might  not  be 
quite  enough  to  satisfy  God's  all-searching  eye  ; 
not  a  righteousness,  but  The  Righteousness  of 
God  ; 3  and  this  no  abstract  attribute,  but  a  Per- 
son, real,  living,  loving, — covering  us  with  His 
own  glorious  apparel,4  representing  us  before  His 
Father,  Christ  Jesus  Himself  '  made  unto  us 
Righteousness  !' 5  This  to-day  and  this  for  ever, 
for  '  His  name  shall  endure  for  ever  ' 6 

It  is  in  His  kingly  capacity  that  this  glorious 
name  is  given  to  Him.  For  only  by  '  submitting 
ourselves  to  the  Righteousness  of  God,' 7  can  we 
have  <  the  blessedness  of  the  man  unto  whom  God 
imputeth  righteousness' without  works.'8  There 
can  be  no  compromise, — it  must  be  His  only  or 
ours  only.  He  must  be  our  King,  or  He  will  not 
be  our  Righteousness. 

1  Zech.  iii.  4,  5.  2  Cant.  iv.  7. 

3  Phil.  hi.  9.  «  Isa.  Ixiii.  i. 

5  i  Cor.  i.  30.  •  Ps.  Ixxii.  17. 

'  Rom.  x.  3.  »  Rom.  iv.  6. 


WORKING   WITH   THE   KING.  $5 

TWENTY-SEVENTH  DAY. 

Working  with  the  King. 

1  There  they  dwelt  with  the  king  for  his  work.' — i  CHRON. 
iv.  23. 

<  THERE  !  ' — Not  in  any  likely  place  at  all,  not 
in  the  palace,  not  in  '  the  city  of  the  great  king/  l 
but  in  about  the  last  place  one  would  have  ex- 
pected, 'among  plants  and  hedges.'2  It  does 
not  even  seem  clear  why  they  were  i  there  '  at  all, 
for  they  were  potters,  not  gardeners, — thus  giving 
us  the  combination  of  simple  labor  of  the  hands, 
carried  on  in  out-of-the-way  places;  and  yet  they 
were  dwellers  with  the  king,  and  workers  with 
the  king. 

The  lesson  seems  twofold, — First,  that  any- 
where and  everywhere  we  too  may  dwell  '  with 
the  King  for  His  work. '  We  may  be  in  a  very 
unlikely  or  unfavorable  place  for  this, — it  may  be 
in  a  literal  country  life,  with  little  enough  to  be 
seen  of  the  '  goings  ' 3  of  the  King  around  us  ;  it 
may  be  among  hedges  of  all  sorts,  hindrances  in 
all  directions ;  it  may  be,  furthermore,  with  our 
hands  full  of  all  manner  of  pottery  for  our  daily 

i  PS.  xlviii.  2.  *  i  Chron.  iv.  23.  8  Ps.  Ixviii.  24. 


86  MY    KING. 

task.  No  matter !  The  King  who  placed  us 
'  there  '  will  come  and  dwell  there  with  us ;  the 
hedges  are  all  right,  or  He  would  soon  do  away 
with  them,1  and  it  does  not  follow  that  what 
seems  to  hinder  our  way 2  may  not  be  for  its  very 
protection ;  and  as  for  the  pottery,  why,  that  is 
just  exactly  what  He  has  seen  fit  to  put  into  our 
hands,  and  therefore  it  is,  for  the  present,  i  His 
work.'3 

Secondly,  that  the  dwelling  and  the  working 
must  go  together.  If  we  are  indeed  dwelling 
with  the  King,  we  shall  be  working  for  Him,  too, 
'  as  we  have  opportunity/  *  The  working  will  be 
as  the  dwelling, — a  settled,  regular  thing,  what- 
ever form  it  may  take  at  His  appointment.  Nor 
will  His  work  ever  be  done  when  we  are  not 
dwelling  with  Him.  It  will  be  our  own  work 
then,  not  His,  and  it  will  not  'abide.'5  We 
shall  come  under  the  condemnation  of  the  vine 
which  was  pronounced  'empty,1  because  '  he 
bringeth  forth  fruit  unto  himself. ' 6 

We  are  to  dwell  with  the  King  '  for  His  work  ;7 
but  He  will  see  to  it  that  it  shall  be  for  a  great 

1  Job  iii.  23.  2  Matt.  xxi.  33.  3  Mark  xiii.  34. 

*  Gal.  vi.  io.  6  j  Cor.  iii.  14.  «  Hos.  x.  i. 


RECOMPENSE;  OF  THE  KING.  87 

deal  besides, — for  a  great  continual  reward  ac- 
cording to  His  own  heart  and  out  of  His  royal 
bounty, — for  peace,  for  power,  for  love,  for  glad- 
ness, for  likeness  to  Himself. 

'  Laborers  together  with  God  ! '  l  '  workers  to- 
gether with  him  !'  2  '  the  Lord  working  with  us ! 3 
admitted  into  divine  fellowship  of  work  ! — will 
not  this  thought  ennoble  everything  He  gives  us 
to  do  to-day,  even  if  it  is  '  among  plants  and 
hedges  !'  Even  the  pottery  will  be  grand  ! 

'  Be  strong,  all  ye  people  of  the  land,  saith  the 
Lord,  and  work,  FOR  I  am  with  you,  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts. ' 4 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  DAY. 
The  Recompense  of  the  King. 

1  Why  should  the  king  recompense  it  me  with  such  a 
reward?' — 2  SAM.  xix.  36. 

BARZILLAI  '  had  provided  the  king  of  suste- 
nance while  he  lay  at  Mahanaim, ' 5  exiled  from 
his  royal  city.  When  the  day  of  triumphant  re- 
turn came,  David  said  to  him,  '  Come  thou  over 
with  me,  and  I  will  feed  thee  with  me  in  Jerusa- 
lem.' 6  This  was  the  ' reward.' 

i  Cor.  iii.  9.  *  2  Cor.  vi.  i.  »  Mark  xvi.  20. 

«  Hag.  ii.  4.  63  Sam.  xix.  32.          «  2  Sam  xix.  33 


SS  MY  KING. 

But  what  a  privilege  and  delight  it  must  have 
been  to  the  loyal  old  man !  And  to  come  nearer, 
what  a  continual  joy  it  must  have  been  to  the 
women  who  '  ministered  ' l  to  the  exiled  King  of 
heaven  'of  their  substance/  How  very  much 
one  would  have  liked  a  share  in  that  ministry ! 

Is  there  any  loving  wish  which  our  King  does 
•not  meet  ?  Was  it  not  most  thoughtful  of  Him 
to  appoint  His  continual  representatives,  so  that 
we  might  always  and  every  one  of  us  have  the  op- 
portunity of  ministering  to  Him  !  These  oppor- 
tunities are  wider  than  we  sometimes  think ;  some 
limit  His  '  gracious  Inasmuch  * 2  to  services  for 
His  sake  to  the  poor  only.  Yet  the  '  strangers  '  * 
whom  He  bids  us  love,  may  be  rich  in  all  but  the 
friendliness  and  kindness  which  we  may  show 
them ;  and  the  '  sick '  may  be  those  among  our 
own  dear  ones  who  need  our  ministry.  Why 
should  we  fancy  it  is  only  those  who  are  not  near 
and  dear  to  us,  to  whom  we  may  minister  '  as 
unto  Him  *  ?  * 

But  oh,  what  little  services  are  our  cups  of  cold 
water  ! 5  and  how  utterly  ashamed  we  feel  of  ever 
having  thought  any  of  them  wearying  or  irksome, 

*  I -like  viii.  3.  *  Matt.  xxr.  40.  *  Deut.  x.  19. 

*  Eph.  vi.  7.  *  Mark  be.  41. 


RECOMPENSE  OF  THE  KING.  89 

when  we  look  at  '  the  recompense  of  the  reward,' l 
— *  such  a  reward ! '  Is  there  one  of  us  whose 
heart  has  not  thrilled  at  the  mere  imagining  of 
what  it  will  be  to  hear  '  the  King  say,  Come,  ye 
blessed  !  '  *  Then  what  will  it  be  to  enter  into 
the  fulness  of  the  reward,  to  '  come  over  with '  * 
Him,  and  dwell  with  Him  always  in  '  the  holy 
Jerusalem,'  and  'go  no  more  out.14 

'  Why  should  the  king  recompense  it  me  with 
such  a  reward  ? '  '  Why  should  thy  servant  dwell 
in  the  royal  city  with  thee  ?  ' 5  For  there  is  such 
a  tremendous  disproportion  between  the  work 
and  the  reward,  though  such  a  glorious  proportion 
between  His  love  and  His  reward. 

And  yet  there  is  a  beautiful  fitness  in  it.  The 
banquet  of  everlasting  joy  for  those  who  gave  Him 
meat ; '  the  river  of  His  pleasures  for  those  who 
gave  Him  drink ; T  the  mansions  in  the  Father's 
home  for  those  who  took  the  stranger  in ; 8  the 
white  robes  for  those  who  clothed  the  naked ; f 
the  tree  of  life  and  '  no  more  pain '  for  those  who 
visited  the  sick ; 10  the  *  gloriou*  liberty ' »  for  those 

i  Heb.  xi.  96.  *  Matt.  aunr.  34.  »  a  Sam.  xix.  33. 

«  Rer.  jori.  10;  ib.  in.  M.  *  i  Sam.  xxrii.  $.  •  Matt.  JOCT.  3S/etc. 

T  Ps.  XXXTI.  &  •  John  znr.  *.  •  Rev.  TU.  13. 

»  Rer.  judL  *;  ib.  jud.  4.  u  Rom.  viu.  „. 


90  MY  KING. 

who  came  unto  the  prisoner ;  the  crown  of  all, 
the  repeatedly  promised  '  with  Me ' l  for  those 
who  were  content  to  be  with  His  sorrowful  or 
suffering  ones  for  His  sake.  Why  all  this?  I 
suppose  we  shall  keep  on  asking  that  forever ! 

TWENTY-NINTH   DAY. 

The  Salvation  of  the  King. 

*  The  Lord  is  our  King ;  He  will  save  us.' — ISA.  xxxiii.  22. 

THE  thought  of  salvation  is  constantly  con- 
nected with  that  of  kingship.  Type,  illustration, 
and  prophecy  combine  them.  *  Thou  shalt  anoint 
him  .  .  .  that  he  may  save  my  people.'2  'By 
the  hand  of  my  servant  David  I  will  save  my  peo- 
ple. 3  '  The  king  saved  us. '  'A  King  shall  reign ; 
in  His  days  Judah  shall  be  saved.' 4  '  Thy  King 
cometh,  .  .  .  having  salvation.' 5 

Because  Jesus  is  our  Saviour,  He  has  the  right 
to  be  our  King ;  but  again,  because  He  is  King, 
He  is  qualified  to  be  our  Saviour ;  and  we  never 
know  Him  fully  as  Saviour  till  we  have  fully  re- 
ceived Him  as  King.  His  kingship  gives  the 
strength  to  His  priesthood.  It  is  as  the  Royal 

l  John  xvii.  24.  2  ,  Sam.  ix.  16.     3  2  Sam.  iii.  x8 ;  ib.  xix.  9. 

*  Jer.  xxiii.  5,  6.          &  Zech.  ix.  9. 


SALVATION  OF  THE  KING.  91 

Priest  of  the  order  of  Melchisedec  that  He  is 
'  able  to  save. ' l  Thus  He  is  '  a  Saviour,  and  a 
Great  One,'  '  mighty  to  save.' 2 

Our  King  has  not  only '  wrought,'  and '  brought,' 
and  '  made  known  His  salvation/  3  but  He  Him- 
self is  our  salvation.*  The  very  names  seem  used 
interchangeably.  Isaiah  says,  'Say  ye  to  the 
daughter  of  Zion,  Behold,  thy  Salvation  cometh ; ' 5 
Zechariah  bids  her  rejoice,  for  '  Behold,  thy  King 
cometh.'6  Again,  Isaiah  says,  '  Mine  eyes  have 
seen  the  King ;  ' 7  and  Simeon  echoes,  '  Mine 
eyes  have  seen  thy  Salvation?  8  as  he  looks  upon 
the  infant  Jesus,  the  Light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles; 
reminding  us  again  of  David's  words,  *  The  Lord 
is  my  light  and  my  salvation.' 9 

It  is  because  we  need  salvation,  because  we  are 
surrounded  by  enemies  and  dangers,  and  have  no 
power  to  help  ourselves,  and  have  no  other  help 
or  hope,  that  He  says,  '  I  will  be  thy  King ;  where 
is  any  other  that  may  save  thee  ?  '  10  There  is  no 
other.  '  He  saw  that  there  was  no  man,'  u  and 
He  says,  '  There  is  no  Saviour  beside  me.'  12 

1  Heb.  vii.  x,  17;  ib.  vii.  25.  2  Isa.  xix.  20;  ib.  Ixiii.  i. 

•  Isa.  Ixiii.  5,       4  Ps.  xcviii.  2.  6  Isa.  Ixii.  xx.      6  Zech.  ix.  9. 

7  Isa.  vi.  5.           8  Luke  ii.  30.  9  P*.  xxvii.  i.    10  Hos.  xiii.  xo. 

11  Isa.  lix.  16.  M  Hos.  xiii.  4. 


92  MY  KING. 

What  is  our  response  ?  David  begins  a  Psalm 
by  saying,  '  Truly  my  soul  waiteth  upon  God : 
from  Him  cometh  my  salvation ;  '  l  but  he  quickly 
raises  the  key,  and  sings,  '  He  only  is  my  salva- 
tion.'2 Perhaps  we  have  long  been  quite  clear 
that  He  only  is  our  salvation  from  '  everlasting 
destruction ; » 3  but  are  we  equally  clear  that  He 
only  is  (not  will  be,  but  is)  our  present  salvation 
from  everything  from  which  we  want  to  be  saved  ? 
— from  every  danger,  from  every  snare,*  from 
every  temptation,5  from  '  the  hand  of  all  our  ene- 
mies, ' 6  from  our  sins  ? 7  In  death  we  would 
cling  to  the  words,  l  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the 
world  to  save  sinners.' 8  Why  not  in  life  equally 
cling  to,  and  equally  make  real  use  of,  the  promise, 
'  He  shall  save  His  people  from  their  sins,'9 — 
not  merely  from  sin  in  general,  but  definitely 
'from  /tersins,'  personal  and  plural  sins?  'Is 
my  hand  shortened  at  all  that  it  cannot  redeem  ? 
or  have  I  no  power  to  deliver  ? ' 10 

His  salvation  is  indeed  finished,  His  work  is 
perfect ;  n  and  yet  our  King  is  still  '  working  sal- 
vation in  the  midst  of  the  earth,'  "  applying  the 

l  Ps.  Ixii.  i.         2  Ps.  Ixii.  2.         3  2  Thess.  i.  9.    4  ps.  xcj.  3. 

*  2  Pet.  ii.  9.        r>  2  Sam.  iii.  iS.    i  Titus  ii.  14.       8  t  Tim.  i.  15. 

•  Matt.  i.  21.      w  Isa.  i.  2.  n  JJeut.  xxxii.  4.  &  Ps.  Ixxiv.  12. 


THE  KING'S  HOUSEHOLD. 

reality  of  His  salvation  (if  we  will  only  believe 
His  power)  to  the  daily  details  of  our  pilgrimage 
and  our  warfare.  We  need  it  not  only  at  last, 
but  now — every  hour,  every  minute.  And  the 
King  t  shall  deliver  the  needy  when  he  crieth, * 
'and  shall  save  the  souls  of  the  needy/  2 

May  He  say  to  your  soul  this  day,  '  I  am  thy 
salvation. ' 3 

Look  away  to  Jesus, 

Look  away  from  al) ! 
Then  we  need  not  stumble. 

Then  we  shall  not  fall. 
From  each  snare  that  lureth, 

Foe  or  phantom  grim, 
Safety  thus  ensureth, 

Look  away  to  Him  ! 


THIRTIETH  DAY. 
Good  Tidings   to   the    King's   Household. 

*  We  do  not  well :  this  day  is  a  day  of  good  tidings,  and 
we  hold  our  peace;  if  we  tarry  till  the  morning  light,  some 
mischief  will  come  upon  us;  now,  therefore,  come,  that  we 
may  go  and  tell  the  king's  household.' — 2  KINGS  vii.  9. 

Just  the  last  persons  who  would  seem  to  need 
'good  tidings,' 4  and  the  last,  too,  who  would 

i  Ps.  Ixxii.  ia  «  Ps.  Ixxii.  13. 

8  Ps.  xxxv.  3.  4  a  Kings  vii.  a. 


94  MY  KING. 

seem  likely  to  have  them  to  convey  !  But  oh,  how 
true  the  figure  is  !  how  many  among  the  King's 
own  household  need  the  good  tidings  which  these 
lepers  brought  !  For  they  are  starving  so  near  to 
plenty, l  and  poor  within  reach  of  treasure, 2  and 
thinking  themselves  besieged  when  the  Lord  has 
dispersed  the  foe  for  them.  Is  it  not  often  the 
spiritual  leper,  the  conscious  outcast,  the  famine- 
stricken,  possessionless  soul,  who  takes  the  boldest 
step  into  the  fullest  salvation,  and  finds  deliver- 
ance and  abundance  and  riches  beyond  what  the 
more  favored  and  older  inmate  of  the  King's 
household  knows  anything  about  ? 

It  may  be  one  of  the  enemy's  devices, 3  that  we 
sometimes  hold  back  good  tidings,  just  because 
we  shrink  from  telling  them  to  the  King's  house- 
hold. How  many  who  do  not  hesitate  to  speak 
of  Jesus  to  little  children  or  poor  people,  or  even 
to  persons  who  openly  say,  '  We  will  not  have 
this  man  to  reign  over  us,'  *  never  say  one  word 
to  their  fellow-subjects  about  the  blessed  discover- 
ies that  the  Holy  Spirit  has  made  to  them  of  the 
fullness  of  His  salvation, 5  and  the  reality  of  His 

1  Ps.  Ixxxi.  10-16.  2  i  Cor.  Hi.  ax,  22.  8  2  Cor.  ii.  xx. 

*  Luke  xix.  14.  6  John  xvi.  14.  15. 


THE  KING'S  HOUSEHOLD.  95 

power,  and  the  treasures  of  His  word,  and  the 
satisfaction  of  His  love,  and  the  far-reaching  ful- 
filments of  His  promises,  and  the  real,  actual  de- 
liverance, and  freedom,  and  victory,  which  He 
gives, l  and  the  strength  and  the  healing  that  flow 
through  faith  in  his  name  !  * 

Satan  even  perverts  humility  into  a  hinderance 
in  this,  and  persuades  us  that  of  course  our  friend 
knows  as  much  or  more  of  this  than  we  do,  and 
that  telling  of  what  we  have  found  in  Jesus,  may 
seem  like  or  lead  to  talking  about  ourselves.  Yet 
perhaps  all  the  while  that  friend  is  hungering  and 
feeling  besieged,  while  we  are  withholding  good 
tidings  of  plenty  and  deliverance. 8  Verily,  '  we 
do  not  well. '  *  Have  there  not  been  days  when 
the  brightest  of  us  would  have  been  most  thank- 
ful foY  the  simplest  word  about  Jesus,  from  the 
humblest  Christian  ? — days  when  even  '  the  men- 
tion of  His  name  '  might  have  been  food  and 
freedom ! 

It  does  not  in  the  least  follow  that  members  of 
Christian  families  need  no  such  '  good  tidings ' 
because  of  their  favoured  position.  They  may 

*  Rom.  viii.  37.  *  Acts  iii.  16.  »  Prov.  xi.  24-26. 

4  James  iv.  17. 


96  MY  KING. 

need  it  all  the  more,  because  no  one  thinks  it 
necessary  to  try  and  help  them.  '  As  we  have 
therefore  opportunity,  let  us  do  good  unto  all 
men,  specially  unto  them  who  are  of  the  house- 
hold of  faith.  '  * 

And  when?    The  constantly  recurring  word 
meets  us  here  again,  <  Now  f 


THIRTY-FIRST  DAY. 
The  Prosperity  of  the  King. 
*  A  King  shall  reign  and  prosper.' — JER.  xxiii.  5. 

IF  we  are  really  interested,  heart  and  soul,  in  a 
person,  how  delighted  we  are  to  have  positive  as- 
surance of  his  prosperity,  and  how  extremely  in- 
terested and  pleased  we  feel  at  hearing  anything 
about  it  !  Is  not  this  a  test  of  our  love  to  our 
King  ?  Are  we  both  interested  and  happy  in  the 
short,  grand,  positive  words  which  are  given  us 
about  His  certain  prosperity  ?  If  so,  the  pulse  of 
our  gladness  is  beating  through  to  the  very  heart 
of  God,  for  *  Jehovah  hath  pleasure  in  the  pros- 
perity of  His  servant. ' 2 

His  prosperity  is  both  absolute  and  increasing. 

1  Gal.  vi.  10.  2  Ps.  xxxv.  27. 


PROSPERITY  OF  THE  KING.  97 

Even  now,  '  Thy  wisdom  and  prosperity  exceedeth 
the  fame  that  I  heard. '  l  If  we  could  get  one 
glimpse  of  our  King  in  his  present  glory  and  joy 
how  we  who  love  Him  would  rejoice  for  Him  and 
with  Him  ! 2  And  if  we  could  get  one  great  view 
of  the  wide  but  hidden  prosperity  of  His  kingdom 
at  this  moment,  where  would  be  our  discourage- 
ment and  faint-heartedness  !  Suppose  we  could 
see  how  His  work  is  going  on  in  every  soul  that 
he  has  redeemed  out  of  every  kindred  and  tongue 
all  over  the  world, 3  with  the  same  distinctness 
with  which  we  see  it  in  the  last  trophy  of  His 
grace  for  which  we  have  been  praising  Him, 
would  it  not  be  a  revelation  of  entirely  overwhelm- 
ing joy  ?  Many  Christians  now-a-days  are  fore- 
going an  immense  amount  of  cheer,  because  they 
do  not  take  the  trouble  to  inquire,  or  read,  or  go 
where  they  can  hear  about  the  present  prosper- 
ity of  His  kingdom.  Those  who  do  not  care 
much,  can  hardly  be  loving  much  or  helping 
much 

But  we  do  care  about  it ;  and  so  how  jubilantly 
the  promises  of  His  increasing  prosperity  ring  out 
\vus!  'He  must  increase.'4  He  must  reign, 

»  i  Kings  x.  7.        *  i  Pet.  iii.  22.      8  Rev.  v.  9.      «  John  iii.  33. 
7 


98  MY  SING. 

till  He  hath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet.* *  Of 
the  increase  of  His  government  and  peace  there 
shall  be  no  end/  2 

All  our  natural  delight  in  progress  finds  satis- 
faction here, — no  stagnation,  no  reaching  a  dead 
level ;  we  are  on  an  ever  winning  side,  bound 
up  with  an  ever-progressing  cause.  A  typical 
light  on  this  point  flashes  from  the  story  of 
David.  He  'went  on  and  grew  great,' 3  or  as  the 
margin  has  it,  'going  and  growing;'  which  we 
cannot  forbear  connecting  with  the  promise  to 
ourselves,  '  Ye  shall  go  forth  and  grow  up. ' 4 
And  then  we  are  told  that  He  'waxed  greater  and 
greater '  (marg.),  'went  on  going  and  increasing.^ 5 

But  we  must  not  be  merely  on-lookers.  Let 
us  see  to  it,  first,  that  there  be  increasing  pros- 
perity in  His  kindom  in  our  hearts.  Pray  that 
He  may  not  only  reign  but  prosper  in  that  do- 
main. And  next  let  us  see  to  it  that  we  are  do- 
ing all  we  can  to  further  His  prosperity  all  around 
us.  Translate  our  daily  prayer,  '  Thy  kingdom 
come  '6  into  daily,  burning,  glowing  action  for 
its  prosperity. 

1  i  Cor.  xv.  35.  2  Isa.  ix.  7.  B  2  Sam.  v.  10, 

4  Mai.  iv.  2.  6  i  Chron.  xi.  9.  6  Matt.  vi.  ?o. 

1  Ps.  xxiii.  5.  8  2  Sum.  xix.  33.  9  Gal.  iv.  5 

M  Cant.  ii.  4.  u  Cant.  v.  i.  '2  Cant.  i.  12. 


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